Ain't It Cool News: The best in movie, TV, DVD, and comic book news.

Harry's BEST OF 2000 Film List

Right on the money by Kaylob	Jan 8th, 2001 01:58:29 AM
Good choices, Harry. I'm glad you had Unbreakable in there.
Good picks Harry by Greensleeves18	Jan 8th, 2001 02:01:25 AM
I agree with you on most of the movies that I saw that were on your list. However, Julia Styles should be hung by the neck until dead. Such a horrible actress hasn't been seen since the introduction of Andie MacDowell. All of her teen films have been shit and her acting in Hamlet 2000 was worse than any one performance in the whole year. With her glassy stare and empty delivery, she should be condemned to acting only with Freddie Prince, Jr. (would his father be ashamed or whut?) in moronic teen movies until she grows too old. Then the both of them should be shot in the head. That way everyone gets what they want out of these horrible actors, especially her.
great list harry by Coopcooper	Jan 8th, 2001 02:09:42 AM
i think you're spot on with your picks, well, in regard to the one's i've seen at least. Although i'd rate traffic over unbreakable. great movies, totally different, so they lend to going either way. its nice to see virgin suicides on the list though. no one ever talks about it and it was beautiful. and your description of girl on a bridge made me wish i hadn't passed up seeing it a couple of months ago. i'll have to catch it. and i think i agree with you on requiem for the top spot. altho on my own personal list the way of the gun would have to fit in their somewhere. as well as cecil b demented. DEMENTED FOREVER god that movie kicked ass.
Good picks, but.......... by AJL	Jan 8th, 2001 02:12:40 AM
I think all of those films are deserving of mention having seen almost all of them. Here are the films I would have added, and my order of choices would be a bit different. MAD PROPS from picking the Virgin Suicides, the most haunting film of the year. My additions(you so could have made a top 30 Harry) You Can Count on Me(my choice for the best of last year) Sunshine The Contender Croupier Dancer in the Dark Wonder Boys(go see it Harry!) Cast Away Chocolat High Fidelity Chuck and Buck The Claim George Washington Fantasia 2000 Nurse Betty(way over looked, Renne rocked!!) Billy Elliot The House of Mirth State and Main Ghost Dog-Way of the Samurai Quills Best in Show Before Night Falls Jesus' Son Waking the Dead Yi Yi Ratcatcher The Gift Erin Brockovich now that i think about it, this year was pretty fucking good, not as bad as i once thought it was.
Good List by tommyterror	Jan 8th, 2001 02:36:44 AM
Good List, Harry. I don't agree with all of them, but I don't disagree with any of them. They're all good film. And the passion you feel for the ones that I also loved this year makes me feel all yummy.
#1: REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, It was the Best Movie Of 2000 by Duty	Jan 8th, 2001 03:08:05 AM
Thanks Harry, You Rock. Man that was the best Top 2000 list I've Seen, Keep up the good work. Don't neglect the page infavor of your new TV Show....
harry, i'm actually impressed by beastie	Jan 8th, 2001 03:18:56 AM
although, i would put High Fidelity on the list. Sure it wasn't the epic that CTHD was or the art statement that Girl on the Bridge was either, but it was perfect in every way that it set out to be. i know that a lot of people disagree, but i think that jack black should win an oscar for supporting actor no contest. done.
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the best film of the yeaar by by GravyAkira	Jan 8th, 2001 03:45:21 AM
Nothing else even comes close
Unbreakable WASN'T supposed to be a trilogy by neovsmatrix	Jan 8th, 2001 04:07:47 AM
We only got one comment and that was from Bruce Willis saying Unbreakable was supposed to be a trilogy. There has been no other confirmation of this, and even Shyamalan himself said there was NO trilogy. So why is it assumed that there is supposed to be one? Still glad you at least mentioned Unbreakable, but I don't think Unbreakable really was incomplete. The whole point of the film was about finding your place in life, and how desperate you may be to do that. But it explores it in the CONTEXT of a comic book. It doesn't become one though. It walks a tightrope between reality and comic book, but it does not go into one direction or the other. The movie tried to make the point that comic books are a significant form of expression and part of our culture. That's why the opening captions were there, why the movie was filmed like a comic book, and why even Elijah HIMSELF talks about comic books as a culture. All these facets were trying to re-inforce that view of comic books as part of our culture, and express an idea in that form. At least, that's my opinion of it all.
Wonder Boys by Bob X	Jan 8th, 2001 04:17:32 AM
Good List, but what the hell? You saw Unbreakable 4 times but "weren't able to catch" the magnificent Wonder Boys? I guess that's what they call having your priorities screwed up.
BEST PART OF TRAFFIC by JChasse677	Jan 8th, 2001 04:39:47 AM
How do I say this without provoking the napalming of everyone who will disagree with this opinion, as well as not spoiling things for people who haven't seen "Traffic" yet? Hmmm... might as well just come out and say it... I think the best section of Traffic was the Catherine Zeta-Jones/Luis Guzman/Don Cheadle/Miguel Ferrer/Dennis Quaid part, I could have handled a two hour and twenty minute movie just about them.
God, I haven't seen many of these! by RevSam	Jan 8th, 2001 05:23:33 AM
Is ther something wrong with me? Or does it have to do with the crappiness of my local theaters? You decide, tonight at 11!
Traffic by briansanderson	Jan 8th, 2001 06:06:18 AM
By far in my opinion the best film of the year!
Be honest - would Charlie's Angels and Requiem for a Dream been by Veidt	Jan 8th, 2001 06:07:26 AM
Great performances and my favorite score of the year by the Kronos Quartet but five minutes into Requiem I was already rolling my eyes saying "Oh crap - the whole frigging movie's gonna be like this." A piece of pop fluff like Charlie's Angels needs the visual style McG brought to it just to make it diverting and fun. Requiem could've used a more naturalistic approach, however. The scenes in Traffic with Michael Douglas' daughter holed up with a drug dealer - presented without a blitzkrieg of cinematic frills - were more harrowing to me and said more - more succinctly - about addiction than all of Aronofsky's close-ups of dialated pupils. Ultimately, I think Aronofsky got in the way of his film's better interests.
Kachte says... by Kachte	Jan 8th, 2001 06:13:14 AM
What about GLADIATOR?!?!?!?!
Where the hell is GLADIATOR ON THAT LIST? by _bullet_ride_	Jan 8th, 2001 06:24:44 AM
Come on, to say that half of those movies are better than gladiator is absurd...UNBREAKABLE???? That movie had not only poor acting all around but it was so full of holes.....god I just don't know what. The buzz around this site when Gladiator came out was enough to give it best picture right then and there, but now everybody seems to have forgotten it. Crouching tiger was great, but it didn't have the story or the intensity of gladiator.
Well done.... by Dash101	Jan 8th, 2001 06:26:15 AM
Yes You know Harry, we've been friends for a long time now and I must agree with most of your choices. I am rather glad you decided to add Unbreakable in your list and definetly Crouching Tiger Hiddden Dragon is every little bit you have said. I wonder however about such others as Gladiator? -dash101 out.
The Music/Score For: Requiem For A Dream was Great, I just can't by Duty	Jan 8th, 2001 06:38:33 AM
Kick ass movie, That made me feel violated, I had to pull my hand out of my mouth at the end and wipe it on my pants!! The music/score just moved me!! Fuck, It moved the Whole Movie to another level!! I want that MUSIC!!!! Ahhhhhh!! -Duty
Look! by Gutty	Jan 8th, 2001 06:40:54 AM
That list was okay, but for some non-geek " movie of the year lists " visit the hot new review site : www.heres-looking-at-movies.co m
Requiem Music..Nevermind, I love Napster!!! by Duty	Jan 8th, 2001 06:42:54 AM
I love you Harry, I love you Internet, I love you quicktime, i love you Napster, i love you All hahaha I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!
Perfect? by Uga	Jan 8th, 2001 06:51:27 AM
How can your #10 movie ("Chicken Run") be "a perfect work of cinema?" Were #1 thru #9 also "perfect?" By the way, was I the only one bored off my ass by "Chicken Run?" And a list without "Wonder Boys" isn't much of a list.
Damn Harry, what's your head doing in San Francisco? Check this by elwen	Jan 8th, 2001 07:26:14 AM
http://www.maccentral.com/news /0101/sfexpo2001/pages/DSC0055 8.htm
Beyond the Mat by kcalder2	Jan 8th, 2001 07:33:41 AM
On the whole I think your picks were acceptable. I know this is just my personal opinion, but I think "Beyond the Mat" was probably the best film I've seen all year. I'm no wrestling fan, but that documentary was just amazing.
"Shadowboxers" is better than "Girlfight" - and why is it a movi by Smugbug	Jan 8th, 2001 08:04:55 AM
like, there's a hidden message that "no one else" can see....or something. I was just thinking...Anyways, great list. I am going to see somehow "Virgin Suicides" - have heard enough buzz about it to go search it out.
What I meant to add: Best In Show is easily the funniest movie by Smugbug	Jan 8th, 2001 08:15:20 AM

just saw crouching tiger for the first time yesterday, by Jon L. Ander	Jan 8th, 2001 08:16:59 AM
And I think it deserves to be on the list of best films of all time, not just "of last year". And I agree with whoever it was who brought up Gladiator's absence. It might have had it's faults but as a Movie Event there's been nothing else to touch it.
the best film of the year is Big Black Titfuckers 4! by Mr Glass	Jan 8th, 2001 08:27:40 AM
Rent it now!
Glad you pointed out its YOUR list by Twig	Jan 8th, 2001 08:38:17 AM
But to continue this ass kissing of Aronofsky and Requiem is insane. That film is an editing seminar, not a film. And praising Burstyn is one thing(she almost survives what Aronofsky does to her), but Connelly and Leto were as awful as they've ever been. I mean, I'm glad you recognized Unbreakable, Chicken Run and O Brother, but Requiem is a piece of shit.
my theory by spunksf	Jan 8th, 2001 08:51:23 AM
Julia Styles is the second whitest woman in America, trailing Helen Hunt by a nose. The question is, is there ANYONE whiter than Chris O'Donnell? As for movie of the year, I'm gonna have to split it between CTHD and You Can Count On Me, two very different films that both whompped major ass.
whiteness by Uga	Jan 8th, 2001 08:58:23 AM
Sandra Bullock is pretty damn white. And Omar Epps.
talk about "media commentary"... by SteelyMax	Jan 8th, 2001 08:58:39 AM
You mentioned that Bamboozled poked fun at the media. But there was a better film this year that did just that: GLADIATOR. Yes, this movie was all blood and guts and beautiful shots and so on - but the entire subtext is a moral about the power of media (TV, movies, sports, etc.) and the damage it may inflict. There won't be such a solid epic like this for a long, long time...
Mistakes by tv`snick	Jan 8th, 2001 09:09:23 AM
Unbreakable doesn't belong on any list except ten worst... but other than than no huge blunders on Harry's part except for the omission of Dancer in the Dark. Requiem for a Dream is quite possibly the best film of the year (I would have to put it in a tie with Dancer) so commendations for that, Harold.
Top films by Jack Burton	Jan 8th, 2001 09:10:31 AM
Unfortunately, I haven't seen all of the films I should have so the list is a bit hard to compile. (Still havent' got around to seeing "Erin Brockovich"). Anyway in no particular order... 1. Traffic 2. Gladiator 3. High Fidelity 4. Frequency 5. Unbreakable 6. Almost Famous "Chicken Run" was fun, but not "great". Lots of movies I enjoyed, but that was it("Way of the Gun", "Cast Away"). Some of the summer stuff was fun (the only one I own is "X-Men" and I bought that DVD used), but overall this year truly sucked. "Crouching Tiger" was good, but overall it didn't blow me away and the "flying" shots were stupid. Sorry, had to say it. Still want to see "Brother, Where Art Thou?" though, it ain't playing here yet. The worst movies are far to numerable to list. Can't wait to see "Battlefield Earth" on video though, should be a riot.
Sandra Buttocks... by spunksf	Jan 8th, 2001 09:12:27 AM
is like Angela Basset when compared to Helen Hunt.
Wonder Boys by JonQuixote	Jan 8th, 2001 09:35:18 AM
The year in review by "Premiere Magazine" said it best when they wrote, "How can Hollywood take complaints about not making movies for adults seriously when it releases a movie like _Wonder Boys_ and nobody goes?" _Unbreakable_ 4 times but you couldn't get around to _Wonder Boys_ at all? For shame Harry!
Very much so by poil11	Jan 8th, 2001 09:37:04 AM
this is the list taht everyone should follow.
Chicken Run by X-Girls	Jan 8th, 2001 09:49:55 AM
This movie, ripped off Wallace and Gromit so many times it was pathetic. The 'jokes' are about as funny as a sitcom. The characters are completely unoriginal. I LOVE Wallace and Gromit, but I don't see how anyone thinks this was on the same level... because it was a movie, with cool claymation work? M:I2 should be on your most horrible films of 2000 list.
I don't get it......... by iAmGladiator	Jan 8th, 2001 10:18:59 AM
This list has movies that you yourself found problems in, yet your reviews for Gladiator, Me, Myself, & Irene, and Way of the Gun are all ass-kissingly perfect.. Of course, they should be, because these 3 definitely deserve to be in this list..
UNBREAKABLE IS Soooooo AVERAGE a flick by THE STICKER	Jan 8th, 2001 10:23:06 AM
CHRIST! - Irish cousin here - 1st time complainer - I really thought that unbreakable was so very AVERAGE a film, it started well with a promising 1st 1/2, after whcih it nosedived in a spiral of relentless over-scoring and pathetic plot twists... Come on the big red one - COP ON! This film was soooooo grey a movie its not even worth half it's praise. Sure some nice touches here and there, but generally I thought it was mediocre - Seeya all, great site - I check in even day... By the by - does anyone know if AKIRA is available on DVD - or does anyone have a copy to sell??? - My hotmail id sticklybun@hotmail.com
Jack Burton... by Dagan	Jan 8th, 2001 10:25:21 AM
Said that "the flying shots" in Crouching Tiger were "stupid"... Wow - considering that he named himself after a character in a movie full of "flying people"(Big Trouble in Little China). I seriously don't understand why people can't separate this movie as fantasy - nobody bitched at Willow when they saw the two-headed Dragon, nobody batted an eye during Dungeons and Dragons when they were throwing fireballs and teleporting, nobody walked out on Jason and the Argonauts when he was fighting the skeletons, put down The Odyssey when he got to the island of the Cyclops, and to a lesser extent - nobody cares when Bruce Willis gets bashed in the face a trillion times in his action movies and comes away with only a slight scratch. These are FANTASIES, Jack. Why can you accept fantasies produced over here but when you see fantasy elements in a foreign movie you say "how stupid"!!! Doesn't make any sense. The "flying" is just as much a convention in Wuxia movies as dragons are in our fantasies over here... Martial artist in the past that were so skilled physically and so in tune mentally that they had supernatural powers - a lost art today. It's just a fantasy convention. And you had to know it was a fantasy going in... I just don't understand.
In the Mood for Love, Yi-Yi & TRAFFIC ... by auteurboy	Jan 8th, 2001 10:25:52 AM
I know this is highly subjective and we all have our opinions etc. But am I the only one who found Requiem for a Dream grossly overrated and terribly monotonous (just a better produced Pi). There was significant growth or development (things were fucked from the beginning) and the monomania of the style was dehumanizing for me. Granted Aronofsky has formal talent & Burstyn gave a brave performance. But for a more humane & complete on-drugs movie, I still pick Drugstore Cowboy or even Naked Lunch. I know I'm going to receive hate mail for saying this, but I also thought Crouching Tiger was overrated. Yes, I enjoyed it and am glad that Yuen Woo-Ping is receiving props. And I will never complain about Chow Yun Fat. But have the people gushing over this movie seen Iron Monkey, Once Upon A Time in China, Peking Opera Blues or Tai Chi Master. All the things that impressed in CTHD are done even better in those films with greater economy & equal lyricism and sometimes superior historical-cultural depth. Maybe it's just my feeling that Ang Lee is a tad too middlebrow and emotionally constipated to ever attain the heights that I want from a movie. Okay enough, before you start to hate me I'm glad that an Asian film is getting props and yes, I did like it. But here's my top 15 & I realize alot of these movies didn't get wide release or even theatrical play in most areas: 1. In the Mood For Love 2. Yi-Yi 3. Traffic. 4. Gohatto/Taboo 5. You Can Count On Me. 6. Chicken Run. 7. High Fidelity. 8. Eureka 9. Almost Famous 10. The Little Thief. 11. State and Main 12. Time Regained 13. Castaway (starting with the crash and ending when Hanks gets picked up by the ship) 14. Yuen Woo-Ping's fight scenes in CTHD 15. House of Mirth 16. Croupier Best Actors: Tony Leung in ITMFL,Wu Nienjian in YiYi, Benicio Del Toro (yes he should be a lead not supporting - Traffic was his movie dammit!), John Hurt in Krapp's Last Tape, Ed Harris in Pollack, Christian Bale in American Psycho, Mark Ruffalo in YCCOM and even Tom Hanks in Castway (as much as loathe to admit it, he was great this time) Best Actresses: Maggie Cheung ITMFL, Bjork in Dancer in the Dark (loved her, hated what Lars did to her), Laura Linney in You Can Count on Me, Gillian Anderson in House of Mirth Best Supporting Actor: Willem Dafoe in Shadow of the Vampire(if only the rest of the movie matched his hilarious, poignant and poetic performance), Jeffrey Wright in Shaft (for providing the only worthwhile part in an otherwise despicable movie) Best Supporting Actress: Kate Hudson in Almost Famous (just radiant and heartbreaking when she finds out she's been sold for beer), Ellen Burstyn in Requiem Best Original Screenplays: Yi-Yi, You Can Count on Me, State & Main, Almost Famous Best Adapted Screenplay: High Fidelity, 13 Days (I heard this comes from books but if it's original my bad) Best Director: Steven Soderbergh Traffic (he shot it too!) and Wong Kar Wai ITMFL Best Cinematography: Chris Doyle and Mark Li ITMFL, Soderbergh for Traffic Best Music: Michael Galasso ITMFL, Bjork Dancer & Cliff Martinez Traffic Best Editing: Stephen Mirrone Traffic, William Chang ITMFL
TRAFFIC should be much higher! by TokyoDrifter	Jan 8th, 2001 10:32:54 AM
Am I the only who thinks Traffic deserves much higher recognition? Maybe people don't realize how difficult it was to make this film work. A) There was incredible scope to cover - Soderbergh's ambition was to show an epic mosaic where every aspect of the drug problem is shown, not just a specific case B) The problem of making it real but not dry. c) Being accused of committing cliches when the truth is already painfully familiar. D) Making an entertaining film that keeps mainstream audiences' attention over a long running time E) Balancing a cast of stars and character actors so that stars are credible and fit into the design. F) Being truthful to the Mexican story by respecting the culture and language & not stereotyping the corruption. G) Not getting sentimental or didactic. When you consider these factors and the fact that Soderbergh shot the friggin film himself (is there anything he can't do?!) it's just staggering the level of achievement. I think the film holds up exceedingly well and improves upon repeat viewings. I've seen it now 3 times and plan on seeing it again. I promise you it resonates with more time, thought and viewings.
Crouching Tiger sucked ass! by Trax	Jan 8th, 2001 10:47:11 AM
Revolutionary?? I think the fat man has finally gone off the deep end! CTHD was about as boring as they come. I nearly fucking fell asleep...not much for an EPIC. That wire-fu stuff does nothing for me except take the realism away from the picture. My theory is if you want to be a wild, fun, UNREALISTIC popcorn movie, than go all the way...vice versa if you want to be a tender, dramatic, serious piece. I mean really, could you see putting some wild stupid Mission Impossible 2 style action scene in the Godfather? Or how about the Matrix trying to come off as serious drama? The moment that people start FLYING in a movie that trys to take itself seriously, the whole effect of BOTH sides is lost. Whatever. Best movies of 2000 were: 1. Almost Famous 2. American Psycho 3. Gladiator 4. X-Men
Am I the only one getting peeved from the fact that neither Mich by Smugbug	Jan 8th, 2001 10:50:53 AM
Is this so obvious discrimination or what? Also no one has mentioned the insipid Peoples Choice Awards where voters picked Mel Gibson as Best Actor for The Patriot. Egads, if the People's Choice aren't a sign of the majority and their willingness to accept mediocrity - I don't know what is. I'm not a movie snob - I do enjoy the movies and just demand now that with my $9 I can be emotionally brought into a world without being senselessly manipulated. whew.....sorry for the mouth ful. Dammit Harry, see what you've done...............
PAY IT FORWARD!!! by thebernards	Jan 8th, 2001 11:04:22 AM
Why is this movie completely disregarded by everyone? Here are my top ten (but I haven't seen most of the movies in Harry's list): 1. Traffic, 2. Pay It Forward, 3. Cast Away, 4. Almost Famous, 5. Gladiator, 6. X-Men, 7. Rules of Engagement, 8. O Brother, Where Art Thou, 9. The Perfect Storm, 10. The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.
In bed with frogs by iaido	Jan 8th, 2001 11:06:40 AM
While i'll agree that Requiem... was probably the best film i saw this year, but ranking Girl on the Bridge at all is ridiculous. Its lightweight crap, and the kind of whimsical, fantasy, relationship movie that has been done to death in France. Hell, the 60's European cinema was ripe with the same kind of film, and better ones too. Girl... had some of the flattest stock characters i've ever seen- the brooding, bitter, macho man, the innocent, youthful, nympho. Daniel Auteuil has done a far better job in dozens of other roles, check out Un coeur en hiver. Harry must have undegone Strip Club Syndrome when he saw it. Thats when your'e so excited and hormone addled by the prospects of where you are, in Harrys case at the movies seeing a foriegn film, that no matter what butt-ugly, hideous thing you have in front of you, you are so blind by your overactive body chemistry you walk out thinking you've just seen Heaven.
Love and Basketball by Uga	Jan 8th, 2001 11:11:45 AM
Did anybody else see this flick? It was absolutely amazing, and actually ranks in my Top 5 of 2000.
Various rants by PoxyVonSinister	Jan 8th, 2001 11:41:05 AM
1. First of all, anybody who puts Grinch on a list for Best Movies can just watch his credibility shrivel and die. 2. Those of you looking for the music for Requeim for a Dream, just go to your Casio keyboard, put it on samba setting 6 or 7, and hit some random chords on the strings setting. I swear, that music made Phillip Glass sound like Manheim Steamroller. 3. Harry, how did you even NOTICE the acting in Requeim with all of Aronofsky's "Hey look at me!!" directing tricks? Every performance in that movie was obliterated by all the trickery. 4. Haven't seen Traffic, Crouching Tiger, or O Brother, so it's hard for me to do a list, but for me, in no order, I'd go with Chicken Run, Gladiator (which improved for me DRAMATICALLY on second viewing on DVD), High Fidelity, Cast Away, Perfect Storm (hey, it worked for me), Meet the Parents, The Patriot (too bad Storm obliterated it, it's the better movie), Magnolia (didn't see it until this year and it was better than a lot of the stuff out there), Unbreakable, and Shanghai Noon.
REQUIEM was a bunch of eye candy in excess--I am surprised that by Quilty237	Jan 8th, 2001 12:04:05 PM
Requiem for a Dream was loaded with stylistic choices, but they were, for the most part, unmotivated. They gave the film a shallow sense and rid it of any emotional connection other than a forrific view on drugs, and addiction. I was dissapointed with a film that could have been great, but instead, seemed juvenile. Style must be driven in order to connect the audience to the characters and story it is trying to tell. Directors like Lumet direct basically without style, and are able to tell a clear, powerful story. Maybe D. Aronofsky should focus on story and developed characters instead of caricatures--not that there's anything wrong with that type of characterization, but it didn't seem that was what he was going for. On the other hand, my best film of the year, "O Brother where art thou?" by the brilliant duo was able to meld it distinctive style with a script and with characters that were made stronger by its whimsical, silly, and silently intellectual tone. The satirical commentary and utter technical genious in this film was the most powerfully original film this year followed by another seemingly unsung hero, "Dancer in the Dark."
Harry's unique spelling. by Lord Bullingdon	Jan 8th, 2001 12:07:44 PM
V.J. Wachowski? Sophia Coppola? Oh (sic) Brother Where Art Thou? Harry, get thee to a dictionary, or at least Leonard Maltin's film guide to brush up on your spelling
DRUG MOVIES by Ghibli-San	Jan 8th, 2001 12:09:21 PM
Lets see here, we got Requeim for a Dream, an amazing film, about drugs. Traffic, an amazing film, about drugs. Trainspotting, and amazing film, about drugs. BLOW, an amazing film, about drugs. Drug movies rule!!
TOP FiVE FROM A KUBRICK LOVER by Quilty237	Jan 8th, 2001 12:13:07 PM
1. O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU 2. DANCER IN THE DARK 3. CASTAWAY 4. AMERICAN PSYCHO 5. TRAFFIC It does not make you an intellectual film person by picking independents if they aren't great movies! These were the only movies all year that impressed me. My top 2 were the only films that gave me the vibe--the feeling we all get when we know we've seen an excellent film.
Gladiator?!! by Palmer Eldritch	Jan 8th, 2001 12:14:59 PM
Gladitsover more like. God it was was shit.
Memento by Azazel	Jan 8th, 2001 12:16:28 PM
Having not seen Requiem...I can't comment, but if Memento had gotten a 2000 US release, it should have wiped the floor with most other films. Time will tell. Congratulations on the Chicken Run backlash too.
call me prehensile boy...i'm not using my hands to type this... by strangerWcandy	Jan 8th, 2001 12:17:45 PM
i agree with most of your picks harry. the best part about you and this site is all the reviews are written in such a casual manner that it is easy to imagine a good friend telling you about the movie. a lot of the other sites around sit you down and educate you while rapping your knuckles every so often. your reviews are like comfort food.
american psycho even annoyed my tapeworm... by strangerWcandy	Jan 8th, 2001 12:30:22 PM
american psycho the worst flick i have seen this year. i would rather sit down and read every fucking "family circus" comic ever made then to watch that senseless flick again. i noticed when i brought it home it had a faint pooh pooh smell to it but i thought that was my catbox cleaning dog...the maggots and free "peanuts" should have been a dead giveaway on what an utter piece of shit i had when i opened it's case.
hello top ten by jeff bailey	Jan 8th, 2001 12:39:39 PM
Finally, Harry admits that maybe Traffic wasn't ALL that. And finally, a few others are doing the same. The Soderbergh that made Erin Brockivich made that movie not the genius of Out Of Sight and Sex, Lies and Videotape (and every other movie except his 2 2000 releases, blecch). The sad part is he is being encouraged in this direction. When I saw Traffic all I could think was "was that an episode of the Practice?" cuz it felt like a really well directed TV show. Sure enough that writer was from TV and boy does it show. Yes it has its merits, it's a soderbergh film for christsakes but it ain't up to his previous standards. Okay and I gotta say my favorite movies so far of 2000(havent seen Brother or Crouching) are: 1)Unbreakable 2)Way of the Gun 3) Hamlet 4)High Fidelity 5)X-Men and...shit dont have time for the other 5. But you get the idea. Funny, 2 soderbergh movies in a year. Thought I'd have to clear out some serious room. Oh well...anyway, here's hoping 2001 is MUCH better. When will we get Memento and In the Mood for Love dammit!
I demand more Helen Hunt movies! by Mr. Henry	Jan 8th, 2001 12:49:11 PM
Now who can't agree with a statement like that.(Sorry, i just had to fume about that talentless bitch being in literally every movie this year). Now I have to say that I'm aghast at the amount of bashing that has been done to Requim for a Dream, the toughest and probably most challenging film of the year. It deserves the praise that it recieved from Harry and more than that it deserves to be recognized as one of the best drug related films ever made. Now I agree that it has some great company, but, in my opinion of course, I feel that no other film pulls you into the mindset of drug addicts than this film. Now I can say this not only because I have known many a drug addict in my time but that I myself have been one. Aronofosky's camera and editing tricks only help us to further understand things from the addicts perspective. He shows us their isolation, desperation, and reliance on ritual as much as the physical pleasure of the drug itself. In fact, this film highly decries addiction of any kind, especially the addiction that we experience in everyday life. What it say's is that humanity is addicted to everything from t.v, to food, to love and sex. We find our drugs where ever we can get them. Whatever it takes to keep our minds off our mundane little lives. This movie is brutal and tragic, never for one second pulling a punch. The only answer I can offer to those of you who felt alienated byt the camera tricks is that maybe you weren't looking deeper, seeing what those shots added to feeling of being an addict. Anyway, like most of you I haven't seen all of Harry's list but it seems for once Harry gotit mostly right. Usually I wouldn't agree with him, but most of the films on there are ones that I loved, like the absolutely brilliant and deeply affecting Almost famous or the Coen's newest masterpiece O'Brother, or they are films like Couching Tiger, Traffic, and Bamboozled. Although I question some of the tastes out there. Pay It Forward!? Fucking Pay it Forward!? I don't think you can make a more transparent soulless piece of drivel. A film that makes Kevin Spacey look bad(no, I don't mean physically). It is probably one of the worst films I have ever seen and a complete waste of time. An obvious attempt to try and win oscars. Fortunately no one was stupid enough to fall for it. Also I know almost all of you love Gladiator, I can only assume for the gore and the excellent action scenes, but I must ask is a revenge flick disguised as an epic swords and sandel flick really worthy of Oscar. While the action was riveting, I found everything in between to be lacking in true subtext. Yes, I know it's about how the media affects society, but really, it didn't add any heart or soul to this picture, although I found Phoenix's performance to be interesting but pretty much completely wasted. Oh yeah, one more thing before I shut the fuck up. I loved X-men like most of you, but top ten? C'mon people. There are glaring flaws in that movie, as well as some cheesiness that detracts from the overall story. I think it's a fine film, hell, I fucking own it, but it is not even close to top ten. And remember boys and girls, just because it's a front doesn't mean you don't have to do the actual landscaping.
harrys picks by walnutz	Jan 8th, 2001 12:50:25 PM
harry- i thank you for bring much deserved attention to REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, it is one of the most underatedfilms of the year, and the memory that ellem buyrstn leaves in my head, continue to haunt me, the film is truly a MASTERPIECE.
best of 2000 by abcdefz	Jan 8th, 2001 12:50:31 PM
Below is my list of the top ten for 2000. "Requiem for a Dream" makes it on there because it is masterfully made, but I also wish the director would have gone another way and let the camera be still. I mean, the best scene in the movie -- the scene in which the characters really seem human and generate genuine pathos -- is when the camera watches Burstyn and Leto talk over coffee. The camera makes one sweep as Leto hears his mom's teeth grinding and he realizes she's on speed -- and it works. Otherwise, the film is about its own virtuosity (which is considerable) raher than real tragedy. Anyway, here goes: "Almost Famous," "Traffic," "You Can Count on Me," "High Fidelity," "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Wonder Boys," "X-Men," "The Virgin Suicides," "Erin Brockovich," "Requiem for a Dream."
I demand more Helen Hunt movies! by Mr. Henry	Jan 8th, 2001 12:50:45 PM
Now who can't agree with a statement like that.(Sorry, i just had to fume about that talentless bitch being in literally every movie this year). Now I have to say that I'm aghast at the amount of bashing that has been done to Requim for a Dream, the toughest and probably most challenging film of the year. It deserves the praise that it recieved from Harry and more than that it deserves to be recognized as one of the best drug related films ever made. Now I agree that it has some great company, but, in my opinion of course, I feel that no other film pulls you into the mindset of drug addicts than this film. Now I can say this not only because I have known many a drug addict in my time but that I myself have been one. Aronofosky's camera and editing tricks only help us to further understand things from the addicts perspective. He shows us their isolation, desperation, and reliance on ritual as much as the physical pleasure of the drug itself. In fact, this film highly decries addiction of any kind, especially the addiction that we experience in everyday life. What it say's is that humanity is addicted to everything from t.v, to food, to love and sex. We find our drugs where ever we can get them. Whatever it takes to keep our minds off our mundane little lives. This movie is brutal and tragic, never for one second pulling a punch. The only answer I can offer to those of you who felt alienated byt the camera tricks is that maybe you weren't looking deeper, seeing what those shots added to feeling of being an addict. Anyway, like most of you I haven't seen all of Harry's list but it seems for once Harry gotit mostly right. Usually I wouldn't agree with him, but most of the films on there are ones that I loved, like the absolutely brilliant and deeply affecting Almost famous or the Coen's newest masterpiece O'Brother, or they are films like Couching Tiger, Traffic, and Bamboozled. Although I question some of the tastes out there. Pay It Forward!? Fucking Pay it Forward!? I don't think you can make a more transparent soulless piece of drivel. A film that makes Kevin Spacey look bad(no, I don't mean physically). It is probably one of the worst films I have ever seen and a complete waste of time. An obvious attempt to try and win oscars. Fortunately no one was stupid enough to fall for it. Also I know almost all of you love Gladiator, I can only assume for the gore and the excellent action scenes, but I must ask is a revenge flick disguised as an epic swords and sandel flick really worthy of Oscar. While the action was riveting, I found everything in between to be lacking in true subtext. Yes, I know it's about how the media affects society, but really, it didn't add any heart or soul to this picture, although I found Phoenix's performance to be interesting but pretty much completely wasted. Oh yeah, one more thing before I shut the fuck up. I loved X-men like most of you, but top ten? C'mon people. There are glaring flaws in that movie, as well as some cheesiness that detracts from the overall story. I think it's a fine film, hell, I fucking own it, but it is not even close to top ten. And remember boys and girls, just because it's a front doesn't mean you don't have to do the actual landscaping.
the Virgin Suicides by WillardEisenbaum	Jan 8th, 2001 12:55:32 PM
can't pass up an opportunity to rave about this gorgeous, dreamlike movie. the movie by its nature had to deal with their death but as many a reviewer has noted, the movie was all about their life, the lives of little girls and what's going on in their heads. and yes Greeley, this movie kicked the shit out of all 6 FFCoppola movies you mentioned! If I was her I'd feel a lot more pressure to measure up being Spike Jonze's wife, than being FFC's daughter. I also recommend the score cd, with slinky insinuating quasi-retro freakout music by Air. I loved loved loved that movie, the Virgin Suicides! Chicken Run was about a half-hour too long, and most of the other movies on your list are about a half-a-year too late, getting to my town. There's always Blockbuster.
I've got two more comments: by WillardEisenbaum	Jan 8th, 2001 12:58:20 PM
One: I can't wait to see CTHD at the movies, so I can see if it's as over-rated as I predict it is. and two: as a former record-store employee, I think High Fidelity, quite like Empire Records, just hits too close to home for me to truly enjoy it. More power to ya, all youse who never worked at a record store, and who can embrace HiFidelity like a breath of fresh air.
credibility by Uga	Jan 8th, 2001 01:04:29 PM
To the guy just before me: You put "The Patriot," "The Perfect Storm" and "Shanghai Noon" on your Top 10 list, and you attack somebody else for credibility? I would even strongly argue against the Overrated Trio of 2000 - "Gladiator," "Chicken Run" and "High Fidelity" - but others tend to agree with you about those flicks (still can't figure out why, though).
credibility by Uga	Jan 8th, 2001 01:05:14 PM
To the guy just before me: You put "The Patriot," "The Perfect Storm" and "Shanghai Noon" on your Top 10 list, and you attack somebody else for credibility? I would even strongly argue against the Overrated Trio of 2000 - "Gladiator," "Chicken Run" and "High Fidelity" - but others tend to agree with you about those flicks (still can't figure out why, though).
credibility by Uga	Jan 8th, 2001 01:05:33 PM
To the guy just before me: You put "The Patriot," "The Perfect Storm" and "Shanghai Noon" on your Top 10 list, and you attack somebody else for credibility? I would even strongly argue against the Overrated Trio of 2000 - "Gladiator," "Chicken Run" and "High Fidelity" - but others tend to agree with you about those flicks (still can't figure out why, though).
Movies that should be on anyone's Top 10 this year... by Kikstad	Jan 8th, 2001 01:09:47 PM
Aside from the ones that Harry listed, I would also add: Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai (Harry, if you haven't seen this film, you must!), The Exorcist re-release, High Fidelity, Gladiator, and yes, X-Men! Thank you. Now pass me the popcorn, Naysayers of Doom. (By the way, of Harry's list, I strongly agree with Crouching Tiger, Almost Famous, and Unbreakable. I'm dying to see Requiem For A Dream. And I'm sorry, but the Coen Brothers best film in my opinion is still Blood Simple.)
Best of 2000 by MOSDEF	Jan 8th, 2001 01:10:44 PM
First , I think Harry has a good list. Two flaws in my opinion are Chicken Run and Requiem for a Dream. Chicken Run was dissapointing and midly entertaining and the subject matter of Requiem was done a thousand times better on HBO with the mini-series "THE CORNER" I do applaud Harry for recognizing Bamboozled. Who in their right mind can call this movie racist? Spike lets EVERYONE whites and blacks have it in this film. Anyway, here's my list for 2000, 1. Traffic 2. Bamboozled (the best media satire since Network) 3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Harry hit the nail on the head with this one) 4. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samuri (Did Harry even see this one?) 5. Gladiator 6. Dark Days (a very effective documentary) 7. Erin Brokovich (Now this is my definition of a popcorn movie) 8.Unbreakable 9.Not One Less (another gem from China) 10. Remember the Titans (very inspiring)
The guy who panned Crouching Tiger and put X-Men on his top ten by MOSDEF	Jan 8th, 2001 01:12:28 PM
X-Men is just a mediocre tv movie.
The guy who panned Crouching Tiger and put X-Men on his top ten by MOSDEF	Jan 8th, 2001 01:18:02 PM
X-Men is just a mediocre tv movie.
gladiator?what are you on?.. by TC-14	Jan 8th, 2001 01:20:02 PM
How can you leave the movie event of the year off the top 15? Even though I like Unbreakable very much it was no where near as accomplished as Gladiator.Chicken Run's better is it?yeh right. When you first reviewed gladiator you were acting as if it was one of the best films you'd EVER seen , never mind just this year!Oh well , Gladiator will be remembered as the film of 2000 so you stating that there were at least 15 films better doesn't really matter. I'll just put it down to your short memory.
What about STATE AND MAINE? by Ed Straker	Jan 8th, 2001 01:31:26 PM
Mamet's film was funnier than any crappy Carrey/Stiller movie ever could be. Flame away. GLADIATOR wasn't all that, by the way. I still can't understand why people are going nuts over it. Maybe they've just never seen gladiator movies before.
A Message To Spike Lee by JP3183	Jan 8th, 2001 01:37:18 PM
Expressing racism is not being righteous. How can you put an end to racism by participating in it?
Erin Brockovich #1 Billy Elliot #2 by BudWhite	Jan 8th, 2001 01:40:39 PM
Unbreakable is #4 Traffic is #5 Virgin Suicides was pretty mediocre and does not deserve to be on a top 10 list. The only thing that makes it work, is the awesome music.
Best movie ever! by Mr Glass	Jan 8th, 2001 01:41:27 PM
has to be Dude, where's my car! and the best actor is Freddie prinze jr in boys and girls. Best actress is for all the chicks who flashed some titty like kate hudson.
Gladiator Missing from Top 15 by jpdanzig	Jan 8th, 2001 01:42:23 PM
I must agree with the other reader who said you missed THE great movie of 2000. Although I have not seen most of the movies in your top 15, Harry, I have seen hundreds, if not thousands, of films in my life, and I don't believe I have ever been as moved by a movie as I was by Gladiator. The woman reviewer who said "this film succeeds on every level" had it right. I am pretty confident that Gladiator will wind up in the pantheon of immortal classics alongside Citizen Kaine, Unforgiven, Casablanca, The Third Man, Schindler's List, and others of that rare power. I doubt if many of the other films in your Top 15 will manage that feat...
Forgotten Greats by Knuttila	Jan 8th, 2001 02:00:21 PM
I think that Malestrom, Timecode, Titus, Waydowntown, and After Life deserve some recognition!
For the record... by Studio Snitch	Jan 8th, 2001 02:16:39 PM
"Shadow of the Vampire" sucked donkey balls, "Two Family House" should be much higher on the list, "The Vrigin Suicides" was just OK (and how dare you even compare her to man who gave us "Apocalypse Now", "The Godfather", and "The Converstation"?!). Also, what about "The Contender"? It was bad ass...even if you don't agree with the politics how could anyone not, at the very least, admire it for having the fucking balls to not play it safe and simple like every other hack in town would. Thank God DreamWorks actually stands behind it's filmmakers and is run by some people with guts and artistic savvy to match their business sense. (And yes, I realize that "The Contender" didn't do so hot, but it's the "Private Ryans" & "Galdiators" that allow them to enrich their stable with these great films). But, speaking of DW, I just have to say that "Chicken Run" was not "perfect", and doesn't belong on any top ten...unless we're talking about Razzies. As for "Unbreakable", I said it back in August, and I'll say it again: superheros my ass!
Movies are getting better! by Ghosts	Jan 8th, 2001 02:17:41 PM
I am speechless. I just saw crouching tiger hidden dragon and was just blown away at how perfect it was. The balance of comedy,fantasy, story,romance,effects,location s and pretty girls (girl:) was just 2 much for me! There are a lot of people critizing it, but these people just dont understand the epic vision of Ang Lee. I would love to see the idiots saying that rubbish try and make a movie as good as this. CTHD and Gladiator were the best movies of the year. I thought that Gladiator was excellent but when i got the DVD it opened new doors as 2 why it is one of the most well-made movies ever. I think people hate to admit it, but we are getting classics on our hands. In the same way as wizard of Oz, gone with the wind and Benh-Hur, we are getting CTHD, gladiator and American Beauty. Music has become so shit and commercial with crappy rappers screaming angry words and selling millions and being treated like stars while true musicians are just thinking 'fuck this shit. i dont wanna be nsync'. I was touched by beauty this year and i just wanted to share it with u all. If anyone wants to mail me, feel free! My fav movies at the mo are are Legend, Willow, Shawshank, usual suspects, casablanca and dark city and my fav musicians Vangelis, Aphex Twin,Radiohead,Prince,Michael Jackson and Terrence Trent D'arby. nyrone_uk@hotmail.com Peace all Nyrone
LOTR by Studio Snitch	Jan 8th, 2001 02:22:30 PM
This really doesn't relate, but I just want to say (again) that New Line is run by the best people in the biz. I mean, attaching the trailer for LOTR to one of their dogs like "13 Days" is great. It's not rocket science, but it's just one of those great moves that's really simple and only helps the complany.
My Top 10 by bort8	Jan 8th, 2001 02:37:01 PM
That's a pretty good list, Harry. I've seen all the movies on your list except The Terrorist, O Brother... and Shadow of the Vampire (which I will all eventually see). As for other movies, I still need to see CTHD, You Can Count on Me, and Chocolat...which are not showing around here, but when I get back up to Austin next week for school I'll be able to catch them all. And I'm sure there's some others I have missed over the course of the year. I have seen over 120 movies this year, however, so I have seen most of what was out in the market year...anyways, here's my personal Top 10 films of the year. 1. Almost Famous 2. Traffic 3. Requiem for a Dream 4. High Fidelity 5. Gladiator 6. Quills 7. Billy Elliot 8. Nurse Betty 9. Unbreakable 10. Boiler Room and here's some more films I believe deserve some sort of recognition: American Psycho, Barenaked in America, Best in Show, Cast Away, Chicken Run, Dark Days, The Emperor
That's a kinda disappointing list. Perhaps Moriarty's list will by Lenny Nero	Jan 8th, 2001 02:44:35 PM

And the person who mentioned Titus...that came out in 1999. It by Lenny Nero	Jan 8th, 2001 02:46:02 PM

my top 5, i guess... by baff	Jan 8th, 2001 02:59:32 PM
alright, i really really havent seen many movies this year so bear with me. mainly ive just gone for fun flicks so my list may seem a bit juvenile. sorry. alright, here we go (in no order, taht makes it 10 times as hard!): 1. x-men 2. Fantasia 2000 3. charlies angels 4.erin brochovich 5. aw, shit.. i cant think of anything else. it was a really REALLY bad year for movies ok? in 99, i would have to cut down my list extensively. baff
Hey Harry, here's something I think you'd like. by Lenny Nero	Jan 8th, 2001 03:08:56 PM
Those Earthlink posters with you on them...well...I was at the Bridge Theater in San Francisco, and the poster of you (plastered on a wall), while also being next to a poster for TRAFFIC, is less than 20 feet away from the Bridge Theater which is showing, of all things, O BROTHER WHERE ART THOU. Kinda funny. You should be proud.
GLADIATOR by Biggus_Dikkus	Jan 8th, 2001 03:09:54 PM
I'm fed up of all the bloody talk of the most overrated film this year. Most of the film, I was bored out of my skin waiting for the next gladiator fight. It was predictable and down right boring at times. Lay off Harry for not choosing it, he should be commended. I'm not saying it was a bad film, just not as good as most of you say it is. Russell Crowe was damn better in LA CONFIDENTIAL and THE INSIDER, so it wasnt even his best perfomance. The Only good performances came from Richard Harris and Oliver Reed (R.I.P) who gave the best performance of his career. And best film of 2000 and this even means you Harry, it's like picking your favourite song of the year, and on both counts you can't. But Unbreakable, in my opinion was absolute crap (BRUCE WILLIS just cannot act).
Top few movies that don't deserve to be on anybody's list by Eleven34	Jan 8th, 2001 03:17:16 PM
I'm not going out on a full fledged CTHD rant HERE, but it shouldn't be the top movie of anything. It should be treated like Romeo Must Die, get the DVD so you can watch the kickass fight scenes and skip the rest of the crap that fills the movie, definately do not believe the hype about the movie. Chicken Run was nothing, especially not good. I'm another disappointed Wallace and Gromit fan... If you want a good cartoon for last year check out the Emperor's New Groove. Disney should learn from it's own movie. It's wacky, zany, and songless, just like more Disney cartoons should be. Virgin Suicides was nothing more than a wasted rental. Now I liked Unbreakable, but I also liked it when I saw it the first time, Sixth Sense. M. Night seems to follow a pretty steady formula for his movies which makes them entertaining but not really great enough of a movie to be listed as such. As for Requiem, Brother, Traffic, Shadow, and Bamboozled, I can't wait to see and judge for myself and hopefully gain respect for Harry's choice of movies. Gladiator was a very fun, LONG movie, but seeing as it was kind of slim pickins this year I could agree that it could be anywhere but somebody's number one slot. I wish I could remember before summer, I know there were some gems that fell through the cracks of memories somewhere around March. I can't wait to see the shit list of last year. I'm glad I have a fast connection otherwise I wouldn't have the patience for such a long list to load... Laterz, Elliott
top movies by azwica	Jan 8th, 2001 03:32:32 PM
I guess I just took a liking to some of the lighter movies this year...here's my top 10 list 1.Best In Show 2. Wonder Boys 3. Chocolat 4.Saving Grace 5. State and Main 6. Erin B. 7. Gladiator 8. Nurse Betty 9. Billy Elliot and 10.Chicken Run The worst movie of the year was Pay It Forward
"IN THE YEAR TWO THOOOOUSSSSAAAAAANNND... by Eleven34	Jan 8th, 2001 03:57:04 PM
Most of those movies did come out in 2000, just not in wide release. Man I swear I saw a preview for Shadow of a Vampire in a movie in early 1999. Laterz, Elliott
HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO, HERE WE GO by beastie	Jan 8th, 2001 04:11:37 PM
OK... 2000 was not that bad of a year. Sure, studio movies sucked ass. But take a look at this list. (by the way this is in no particular order). 1-American Psycho 2-Quills 3-High Fidelity 4-Shadow of the Vampire 5-Almost Famous 6-Virgin Suicides 7-Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 8-Traffic 9-Oh Brother Where art Thou 10-Snatch 11-Nurse Betty 12-Girlfight 13-Time Code 14-Way of the Gun 15-The Filth and the Fury 16-Chicken Run 17-Unbreakable 18-Wonder Boys 19-American Movie 20-Requiem for a Dream 21-The Contender. That is a damn good list of movies. Even if you don't agree with me on all of them, each one of them is worth checking out. The two documentaries, The Filth and the Fury and American Movie, are on no ones list and this baffles me. Why the hell not? Both are wonderfully told stories equal to that of any other film released this past year. Nurse Betty was an underated little gem. Way of the Gun was the most spectacular western since Unforgiven. Time Code was Mike Figgis' best movie as of yet. The Contender: Have we all forgotten about this wonderful movie. It had by far the best performances of the year. And yet none of these films made it on anyone's list. Instead, people are talking about the amazingly hypocritical Gladiator. Or even the very cliche X-Men. The year 2000 got a lot of crap for sucking in terms of movies, but in all actuality it was one of the best years in recent history. It's just really damn hard to follow up a year like 1999. Not to mention studio movie sucked for the most part. But, really, who cares? When you've got wonderful indie films like the one's listed above (I know, not all of them are), who needs to see the next big sci-fi epic or giant man-eating animal movie(although I gotta admit, those are quite a little guilty pleasure of mine). So, if we'd stop judging film years based on what happened to come out during the summer, we might realize that there is a lot more out there.
You guys are unbelievable! by Human Subject k7	Jan 8th, 2001 04:17:38 PM
Honestly. For movie junkies you guys have really predictable taste almost across the board. Does ANYBODY here not buy into hype? No wonder Michael Bay has a job. Can't we all admit it was a terrible year for film (especially American film). Yi Yi and Traffic were the best :)
faves of this year by cadbury	Jan 8th, 2001 04:18:07 PM
Just saw "Requiem for a Dream"...pretty potent, hard-hitting stuff. Aronofsky definitely capitalizing on the promise he showed with "pi." Anyway, top ten: (haven't seen "Oh, Brother" yet or CTHD).... 1. Gladiator 2. Requiem for a Dream 3. Titus 4. Ghost Dog: the way of the samurai 5. American Psycho 6. Almost Famous 7. Hamlet 8. M:I2 (kind of a sucker for Woo, sorry!)
hell yeah by Punck	Jan 8th, 2001 04:24:37 PM
Way of the Gun ruled. I gotta see Wonder Boys, though. The Patriot and Gladiator were pretty bad, with Gladiator being a little better. Glad you kept them off the list. High Fidelity was ok, but it needed more Jack Black, he ruled.
speaking of over-rated movies... by WillardEisenbaum	Jan 8th, 2001 04:30:37 PM
...notice how NOBODY has yet mentioned Chuck and Buck(which was the same EW douchebag's #1 movie of the year, the same guy who panned O Brother)? The only people who swore by that movie are the guys who don't mind being reminded they used to touch somebody else's dingdong when they were little.
sorry... by beastie	Jan 8th, 2001 04:43:40 PM
I can't believe I forgot, Ghost Dog and Chuck and Buck!
Gladiator is gay. by Lung	Jan 8th, 2001 04:44:45 PM
Right fucking on about Requiem for a Dream being #1!!
REQUIEM FOR A DREAM by BEARison Ford	Jan 8th, 2001 04:46:46 PM
brilliant editing all across the board, but talk about a fucking derivitave cliched shock value story. seen it before and don't need to see it again x10.
Gladiator was 'a bit shit really'. by hung dogg	Jan 8th, 2001 05:02:23 PM
Bravehart in rome inspired by 'stella artois' adverts. Braveheart was a bit crap too. Course if ya gonna spend the money on these things you gotta please everyone right?!
Top ten by Tyler Durdan	Jan 8th, 2001 05:20:25 PM
For anyone who cares, here's my top ten: 1. Gladiator 2. Almost Famous 3. Traffic 4. Unbreakable 5. The Cell 6. Erin Brokovich 7. Pay it Forward 8. The Legend of Bagger Vance 9. Quills 10. Nurse Betty Since I'm in a good mood, I'll put my top ten of 1999, the best year ever for movies: 1. American Beauty 2. Fight Club 3. Magnolia 4. South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut 5. The Green Mile 6. The Sixth Sense 7. The Talented Mr. Ripley 8. Dogma 9. Being John Malkovich 10. The Matrix
my top 8 of the year by kkdogg	Jan 8th, 2001 05:24:33 PM
1. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 2. Almost Famous 3. Traffic 4. Wonder Boys 5. Erin Borkovich 6. Gladiator 7. Finding Forrester 8. Quills **The best movie experience of the year was my first viewing of Almost Famous, though at the time referd to as Untitled, a much better version than was released but still what was released was worthy of a #2 spot on my list. Have yet to see: Requiem, 13 Days, and a few others.
Poor Junkies by Mr. Henry	Jan 8th, 2001 05:25:25 PM
This for St_buggering. Requim isn't about poor junkies. It's about the tragedy of addiction and how we get ourselves stuck in an endless and vicious cycle of making ourselves numb. We don't feel sorry for the characters because their arrogance brings upon their own downfalls but the horror of what happens to them is truely shocking and disturbing. Ok. Now I just had to go and plug a few films I think were pretty great this year. Way of the Gun was an excellent mix of film noir and the western with a twisting plot. intriguing characters, and beautiful dialouge. Also way underrated and underseen was Ghost Dog, which of few of you have mentioned here. The interaction between the visuals and the soundtrack are amazing, creating a zen like poetry that is beautiful to behold. Probably one of the top three films of the year. Again, I feel a need to point out that Gladiator is not as keen as most people think it is. Beheadings are never a reliable substitute for subtext. On the run from Johnny law. Ain't no trip to Cleveland.
THE REAL LIST!!! by milo_tindle	Jan 8th, 2001 05:55:43 PM
10-you can count on me 9-crouching tiger hidden dragon 8-chocolat 7-Gladiator 6-requiem for a dream 5-cast away 4-traffic 3-Quills 2-state and main 1-almost famous
Consensus pick for best Coen Bros. movie! by elvisneedsbytes	Jan 8th, 2001 06:33:53 PM
It's gotta be MILLER'S CROSSING!! What was better? Fargo? Nah! Big Lebowski? Too stoned! Raising Arizona? Too trailer-park! MILLER'S CROSSING!! One of the top movies of the '90's, along with THREE KINGS, DAZED AND CONFUSED, PULP FICTION, OUT OF SIGHT, and CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON!! I dare anyone to pick another Coen movie!!
Best and Worst by sub-moxy	Jan 8th, 2001 06:45:29 PM
BEST: 10. Nurse Betty 9. Chuck & Buck 8. The Big Kahuna 7. Dancer In the Dark 6. The Virgin Suicides 5. High Fidelity 4. American Psycho 3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2. Traffic 1. Almost Famous WORST: 10. The Cell 9. Pay It Forward 8. Battlefield Earth 7. The Whole Nine Yards 6. Dinosaur 5. I Dreamed Of Africa 4. Coyote Ugly 3. Romeo Must Die 2. Final Destination 1. Down To You --- I probably would have both Requiem and O Brother on here had I seen them, but as of now I still have not.
X-Men's easily one of the ten best movies of 2000.........yeah, by axelfoley	Jan 8th, 2001 06:51:32 PM
I think it's amusing that when a comic book movie succeeds, as well as X-Men has-- and it was so largely embraced by both the general public AND art-film loving critics that there always have to be a pack of collective douchebags who have to rain on the parade. It's ok to not like it, just like any movie, but a lot of times people shit on this movie-- for whatever reason, they never slate reasons. This leads me to believe that people don't want to see comic book movies succeed. Yet they can worship such piece of shit teenybopper movies (Bring it On anyone?), but criticize one of the most respected and well-received comic book adaptation since the original Batman. You people can't say that X-Men was one of the worst movies of the year, as much as I know some people would want to. The movie was a big hit, and got good reviews, if you don't like it that's cool, but to say it's crap isn't a sure thing, now is it? That alone underscores people's misinterpretation of comic book fantasy. Christ, I hope Spider-Man doesn't suffer the same fate.
You are so right! by The_Escapist	Jan 8th, 2001 07:01:38 PM
the guy obove me is a very smart dude. The Big Kahuna was one of the best movies i've seen this year!!!!! I wonder why Lions Gate isn't pushing for Oscar nominations for all three actors?! (or should i say the only three actors) Kevin Spacey gives one of his best perfomances to date (a lot better than "Pay It Forward" ARRGHH!!) so does Peter Facellini (he was that jerk from "Can't Hardly Wait") but the real standout is Danny DeVito. that was by far his best performance EVER. See it and be prepared to be blown away.
Yet another Top 10. by Horrrdan	Jan 8th, 2001 07:09:21 PM
Harry, you really don't know what you're missing unless you see Wonder Boys for yourself. The performances are truly inspired, the dialogue is deliciously biting and the movie is one of those rare gems that can progress at a snail's pace and still be captivating. great great great. Now for the Top 10: 1. Traffic (Combine the scope of Magnolia with the visual sense of Three Kings, layer this on top of a war we oft declare but will never win, and you have an unmatched film for 2000. Best War movie of 2000 as well:) ) 2. O Brother (The Coens are Gods. Definitely the best directorial duo, EVER. The most poignant depiction of Southern life in film history IMO.) 3. Wonder Boys (My views on this film were detailed above. One other note: it was great to see Michael Douglas break the type-cast of the older sex symbol with an evil side. I was getting really sick of that.) I'm having trouble finishing this list... Haven't yet seen CTHD, Gladiator, Requiem for a Dream or Chicken Run. I'm sure they'd be in here somewhere, along with Cecil B. DeMented, Best in Show, Almost Famous (at the WAY low end. Harry's view of Traffic is my view of AF. It could have been great, and had many great moments, but fell flat overall. Sad really.) High Fidelity, Godzilla 2000 (yes, really. Because I rate it purely on the experience, which was, bar none, the most fun I've had in a movie theater all year.) So yeah... that's my bungled, incomplete, unordered top ten list. (I was going to make a spinal tap reference, but it actually goes all the way to 12) HARRY! I just remembered. WONDER BOYS COMES OUT ON DVD TOMORROW! Add it to your list even if you end up seeing it on the small screen. It's one of those personal home theater movies anyways.
reasons i disliked x-men by beastie	Jan 8th, 2001 07:20:06 PM
I, for one, believe that Marvel comics do not adapt well to live action. They are wonderful on the page and make for some great cartoons, but because of the absurdity of some of the super-powers of the characters combined with the costumes, they just never work out for a live action feature. I thought before I saw X-Men that it was going to suck for these reasons, and I still believe that I was right. The reason that I think Batman worked in 1989, is unlike X-Men in 2000, the script was not there as a clothesline to support the cool costumes. The script would have worked had Batman run around in all black clothes rather than the Batsuit. X-Men on the other hand was all based on, "How cool can we make this look". The script seemed thrown together from every action movie you can find in the video store. i.e. All the world leaders meeting on the same damn island at the end of the movie, rebellious good-guy is the star of the movie, and picking only the most atractive young actors for roles. Another thing that I thought was cliche, was the moral of the story was that we all need to keep open minds and learn to accept other people. That is one thing that really gets on my nerves. I already do those things and yet every time I go to the theater, I am preached at like I'm a biggot. Can't these people come up with a more orginal moral or not use one at all. Every movie these days tells us how to be open minded. If we haven't learned it by now I don't think we are going to learn it at all. I didn't like it for those reasons. Now if you're going to base your opinions on what critics think and box-office success, then fine doesn't bother me. I like to think for myself.
Great list! by Cutter20	Jan 8th, 2001 07:32:34 PM
Harry, you have chosen... WISELY. Although I would have felt a smug self-assurance at seeing Gladiator on the list, I absolutely respect and admire your top 15 decisions. Requiem is fantastic, Unbreakable is haunting, Crouching Tiger is magical... you made some good calls. All hail Lord Geek! -Andrew
this is wack by bender666	Jan 8th, 2001 07:35:16 PM
i agree with whoever it was that said drug movies rule (although i haven't seen blow)...i loved trainspotting, requiem for a dream, and traffic. also, if everyone here is so damn opinionated, and knows why every movie sucked so much, go out and make one yourself. otherwise calm down a bit when simply discussing which ones you liked and which ones you didn't, you would probably be a much worse director.
SithMasterBB is the type of moron that I thought we would have w by Lenny Nero	Jan 8th, 2001 07:41:52 PM
Those movies did fuckin' come out in 2000...ALL OF THEM! Just because they didn't open around you doesn't mean they don't count. O Brother opened on Christmas, Traffic opened on December 29, etc. They open only a few places in 2000 just for Oscar consideration. They still count as 2000, though.
There are a few things I need to say to elvisneedsbytes and Lelo by Lenny Nero	Jan 8th, 2001 07:53:07 PM
elvisneedsbytes...yes, I think Miller's Crossing is the best Coen Bros. flick, but in my book, it's a tie...with THE HUDSUCKER PROXY. They're both incredible movies, but Hudsucker is even more underappreciated than Miller's Crossing. And Lelon, WONDER BOYS isn't on Harry's friggin' list because he hasn't seen it yet. He says that in the article. Read it again. And Horrdan, yes, Wonder Boys comes out on video tomorrow, but last time I checked, there was no release date for the DVD. I wish it came out tomorrow, but the sad truth is, it isn't. Just VHS, which I'm getting further and further away from with my DVD machines (and a quickly-building library of 110 titles).
The only people I've ever heard that hated GLADIATOR are... by MOSDEF	Jan 8th, 2001 08:08:35 PM
people in this talkback. the same with Crouching Tiger...these movies are NEW CLASSICS folks, face it.
Wonderfull Wonder Boys and My top 5 by ObiWanKenobi1138	Jan 8th, 2001 08:36:23 PM
I will have to agree with the comment earlier that there is no list without wonder boys. I have not seen Requim but I REALLY want to see it! It just hasn't come my way. So Without that here is my list: 1. Wonder Boys (Incredibly Satisfying) 2. Finding Forester (Great performances by leads) 3. Frequency (Dennis Quaid is under rated. Father sun movie that rocks) 4.High Fidelity (Another satisfying movie with oscer worthy John Cusack.) 5. Gladiator (memories of Spartacus) So There is my peice, CTHD was not far off either. -Obi
Martial arts. blahblahblah... by spunksf	Jan 8th, 2001 09:03:47 PM
I keep reading all this stuff about CTHD just being some kung-fu flick. News flash kids. It's more a ballet than anything else. Each character's movements were so nuanced and precise. Every step was an expression of a deeply felt emotion. That's where the art lies. It's not just "cool looking". It was dance used to convay emotions. It works on several levels, as opposed to most generic films that can't even manage to work on one level. And we haven't even talked about the cinematography, art design, hell no one is even mentioning the subtle and powerhouse performances. You can watch it and see people fighting on the tops of trees, but you can (American Beauty moment) look closer and see a truely amazing film. Oh, and a special shout out to our good friend, lung. If Gladiator is gay, would you give him my phone number please? Good film or crap, Russel Crowe can sure fill out a minskirt nicely.
1999...best year in film?!?!?!? by njjester	Jan 8th, 2001 09:38:40 PM
I guess some folks just think history began with the Internet (you know, so you can read about all the movies you either don't have the time or are not old enough to see and then act as though you've "seen" them). Is 1999 better than: 1970: Patton, MAS*H, Women in Love, Love Story, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Five Easy Pieces, Woodstock? 1973: Paper Moon, Serpico, American Graffiti, The Paper Chase, The Sting, The Exorcist, The Last Detail, Bang the Drum Slowly? 1976: Network, Rocky, The Omen, The Pink Panther Strikes Again, Taxi Driver, the Outlaw Josie Wales, All the President's Men, Harlan County, USA, Carrie and Marathon Man? Can American Beauty touch _any_ of those films (OK, maybe Paper Moon and Love Story).
Hmmmmmmm by curtdog	Jan 8th, 2001 09:54:46 PM
not bad, but definitely not my list! Damn, Gladiator was 100 if not a million times better than Virgin Suicides. That movie was mediocre. No plot what-so-ever. And what's with all the fuss over chicken run? I loved the Wallace and Gromit tunes, and Chicken Run wasn't half as clever or funny as those. I thought it was kinda weak, honestly. Requiem was pretty good, not as good as Pi. It wouldnt's hurt to throw in a couple more pop movies, they weren't all bad.
Random thoughts... by Adric	Jan 8th, 2001 10:15:38 PM
Requiem for a Dream was a good film, but I don't know if I could call it the year's best. It had great performances and editing, but it was pretty much two hours of pure misery about a subject we've all seen before. And for all you suckas who keep saying Gladiator deserves a place on the list, soory but y'all are a bunch of chumps. It was okay, but that was it. The story is simplistic, and doesn't really make any sense when you really look at it. Also, the ending was generic, the special effects were murky, and all the fight scenes were sloppy. It just wasn't that great a movie.
yet another top 10 list by elecam	Jan 8th, 2001 10:18:38 PM
1. Dancer in the Dark (Did anyone see this?) 2. CTHD 3. Wonder Boys 4. Jesus' Son (Best Drug oriented movie I've ever seen, because it is so real) 5. Gladiator 6. Best in Show 7. Chicken Run 8. Snatch 9. 13 Days 10. You Can Count On Me Also, Traffic is the biggest disappointment of the year. It's so overrated, what has happened to Soderburgh.
Your all fucking morons( well a lot of you) by cynicaster	Jan 8th, 2001 10:32:38 PM
Do any of you know anything about movies, perhaps what makes a good movie. How the fuck could you ever put X-Men in a top ten list. I love X-men, and I have been reading the comic for 10 years and although the movie was entertaining it wasn't that good. It wasn't, the acting was decent, the script was sub-par and the special effects were a little cheesy. So get it off your fucking lists, it was ok, not great. And what the fuck, I saw The Way of The Gun on someones list, that movie was awful, poorly scripted, stylistic and predictable. And I agree with the person who said that some people pretend to like indie's so that they look and feel smarter. And Harry can't review for shit, he's a fat moron and a huge sellout. You want a good top 10 list well I can't make one for 2000, it was a shitty year for movies but the good ones we had are too close to call so here: Crouching Tiger(yea it was that fucking good, nevermind the martial arts it had a good script and excellent acting, and it was an original piece)Traffic (Not good? TV Episode? Are you on crack? The cinematography was great, the story was enthralling and the acting is unmatched this year)Gladiator ( I loved this movie, it's not as great as Spartacus or Braveheart but it was a different kind of epic, one more action oriented. It had it's problems, Jaquin Pheonix anyone, and some bad edits but it came out one of the coolest and entertaining movies I've seen in a long time) And past these three movies I don't give a damn, and by the way Unbreakable in a top 15 list, please again it was good but it wasn't that good. Shamalayan(or whatever) fucked up a great idea and his cinematography and direction sucked. You Fucking Geek morons i can't believe some of the shit you guys say. Yea your entitled to your opinions but shit your idiots.
Ya missed one by Uga	Jan 8th, 2001 11:04:53 PM
Did nobody see "Love and Basketball"!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Man, that's definitely worth a rental - check it out.
And yet another top 10.... by SlimSpinPharaoh	Jan 8th, 2001 11:07:29 PM
Harry, not seeing Wonderboys is bad, bad stuff. Really. When you rush out and see Dungeons and Dragons, easily the worst movie all year, yet miss one of the best...that's wrong. But, oh well. Just see it asap when it's released on dvd/video. Anyways, my top 10 is as follows... 1. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon 2. Almost Famous 3. Wonderboys 4. Traffic 5. High Fidelity 6. Beyond The Mat 7. Quills 8. American Psycho 9. Snow Falling On Cedars 10. Unbreakable Didn't have a chance to see Requiem For a Dream, O Brother, or Best In Show, and I have a feeling they'd all probably somehow crack that list. But, that's how it stands I suppose. Whoo.
Is it me, or is American Psycho the most misunderstood film of t by death_stick	Jan 8th, 2001 11:10:50 PM
Granted, "Psycho" is not the best film of the year, but it has its moments, and it has its moments. It was improperly labeled as a psychological thriller, and therefore, people who actually went to see it were disappointed, which is fair considering the marketing that went into the film. However, there is a strong message in the film about getting consumed with the "material world," and how consumerism, and making sure we have all the best material things leads to a loss of our own identity, so much so, that we become unrecognizable to each other. I think the film hit upon that well, and I think Harry, along with the all the other people that saw this and hated it, missed the point. To put it in perspective, Bateman tries to deeply analyze a Huey Lewis album, and his speech sounds like something you might here out of publicity notes, instead of looking at it for what it is, fun music without a lot of thought to it. The same goes for somebody who might put "The Perfect Storm" as their best film of the year, sure it's a good ride, but it's mindless fun, and the sum of its parts can't really make it into consideration for the best picture. The bottom line is, these common things that we all get to see, that allow mass amounts of people to participate in, aren't always the most intelligent or thought provoking, but we try to make them special to ourselves by justifying their importance, and looking more into them than we really need to. Perhaps some people will point out that I am a victim of my own example, but then again, how many of you actually saw this movie.
Opinions are like assholes... by McSatan666	Jan 8th, 2001 11:44:58 PM
...everyone thinks theirs doesn't stink. Anyway, I agree with some of Harry's picks, but leaving Gladiator out of the top 15 is insane. Seems like a few people really hated it, but I honestly can't see how a Hollywood movie could have been put together better. Any mainstream blockbuster-type that has the balls to end like Gladiator did can't be a waste of time. No sequel a-comin'. Too bad John Woo couldn't have killed Tom Cruise at the end of M:I-2. That I'd have paid $9 to see. Requiem for a Dream is a heavy-handed piece of crap. Burstyn DOES give an amazing performance, but it's hard to notice in the middle of Aronofsky's visual acrobatics. A directorial wank-fest if you ask me. Was the story so mediocre that he had to resort to such tactics? (Actually, yeah, it kinda was). DA has a ways to go before he's mature enough to make a REALLY good movie. I'm also apparently the only person on the planet who didn't think Almost Famous was all-that. Crudup, McDormand, Seymour Hoffman and Jason Lee were all great. That Fugit kid could barely act, and Kate Hudson was waaay over-hyped and over-rated. The band stuff was great, but the whole love story angle just didn't work at all - namely because it relied on the two weakest actors in the bunch. Not one of the best movies of the year, and not even Crowe's best movie. If anyone cares, my picks would be: 1. Wonder Boys. There was no better movie this year. Harry should be ashamed for missing it. 2. Gladiator. 3. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. 4. Traffic. It IS as good as the hype. There's so much going on in this film, and Soderbergh still makes sense of it. Visually compelling, entertaining, and more than a few good performances. CZ-J actually shows chops in this. 5. The Cell. Tired serial-killer plot aside, the most visually stunning movie of the year, IMO. 6. Sunshine. A better movie about the "Jewish experience" than Schindler's List - I swear to God. 7. Erin Brockovich. Just an entertaining Hollywood movie. Flawless direction by Soderbergh. Robert's best performance. 8. High Fidelity. Cusack deserves an Oscar nod. 9. Pay I Forward. A bit over-hyped when it came out, but the three lead performances were really, really good. Helen Hunt has never been better. 10. Men of Honor. Ordinarily, this is the kind of film the Academy would recognize. Not many people saw it. Interesting true story, really fine performances by De Niro and Cuba Gooding Jr. I still haven't seen stuff like Ghost Dog, Girlfight, Animal Factory, a few other things that could change my mind. Oh yeah... I liked X-Men, but anyone who counts it as one of the best of the year should be knee-capped.
Do all the retards who post here ONLY see the schlock offered at by heywood jablomie	Jan 9th, 2001 12:14:50 AM
If more of you wankaholics spent money on actual genuine good movies like YI YI, COLOR OF PARADISE, L'HUMANITE and TIME REGAINED, I would be spared the anguish of listening to multiple geek variations on "Shay, I gotta tell ya, Perfect Shtorm workt fer me!"
THE BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!! by keisereela	Jan 9th, 2001 01:30:47 AM
1. Battlefield Earth 2. Loser 3. Boys and Girls 4. Pokemon the Movie 2000 5....and.....GLADIATOR!!!!!!!! !!!
THE BEST FILMS OF THE YEAR!!!!!!!!!!! by keisereela	Jan 9th, 2001 01:31:06 AM
1. Battlefield Earth 2. Loser 3. Boys and Girls 4. Pokemon the Movie 2000 5....and.....GLADIATOR!!!!!!!! !!!
gladiator is the most overhyped movie of all time by jamie sonil	Jan 9th, 2001 01:36:37 AM
I can imagine how many dicks people from Dreamworks have to suck to get sell this piece of garbage. I can only remember my friend sleeping through that 20 hour saga. Oh well, The Sound of Music is a classic...and my father still pukes at the thought of it.
Why Gladiator isn't on the list (for anyone that needs things sp by Shaft9876	Jan 9th, 2001 03:33:37 AM
The reason that Harry, the film critics, and the Hollywood establishment that brown Harry's nose have abandoned Gladiator like a leper is that they started to come to the realization that ol' Ridley pulled a fast one on 'em and sneaked out a big-time Hollywood movie that, when you peel back the layers and reach the subtext, is a blistering critique of the moral corruption in modern America, from the public at large to the media, all the way up to the top, to the man Hollywood worships as a God, Bill "call me Commodus" Clinton. Get it now?
Hey I'm JackBurton God Damn it!!! by JackBurton	Jan 9th, 2001 05:29:27 AM
And have been ever since the talkbacks started when Harry revamped the site into the current look, so stop taking my name as your own "Jack_Burton", and go get your own nick already, because as it stands this sucks. Is it hot in here? No, it's just me.
Hollywood studio hype they call Gladiator by hawauer29a	Jan 9th, 2001 05:43:28 AM
I am not surprised it's even being considered by so many kids as one of the best this year.
well said, that man! by RP McMurphy	Jan 9th, 2001 05:45:20 AM
fair play to ye Mr Sticker! Is it only us Irish that speak the truth? Unbreakable IS only average - an intriguing premise and a promising first hour degenerated into pretty laughable stuff. As for the 'twist', it was fairly predictable - although not as much as the completely overrated Sixth Sense ( anyone who didn't guess that twist in the first five minutes should be smothered with a pillow and removed from the gene pool. Oh- you disagree? well, watch it again and see how obvious it is). And for what its worth Gladiator should be on the list even though its not a patch on Spartacus or Braveheart. But hey! - its harry's list and he can put whatever the hell he wants on it.
X-Men was my favourite but... by Skyblade	Jan 9th, 2001 06:18:04 AM
...I wouldn't put it on my top ten list. It's too short and the plot is engaging, but not extrodinary. However, it might go on to become something like 2001 or Blade Runner as a latent classic. I think, though, maybe it was the media putting it in my head that the movie wasn't that good, and people had me second guessing my own opinion. Axel you are so right. The people's response to comic book films is disgusting. None of the newsgroups consider X-Men that important a movie, even thoughit made so much money with such a small audience(Nobody I know saw X-Men in the theatres, while eveyone I know saw What Lies Beneath). Access Hollywood left it out of their "big movies of 2000", but left in the barely successful Charlies Angels. They also called Blair Witch 2 flop of the year, but not Battlefield Earth (Travolta interviews anyone?.) The prickery of the public's attitude towards comics and comic films can also be applied to Unbreakable. Except for slower pacing, and not as cool an ending, it was as good as the Sixth Sense. You heard me. It's just your disgusts or indeffirence to the comic book art form. Every day I have to deal with it, and frankly I'm sick of it. X-Men was a no top 10 film (althugh I can only watch my top 10 films once) but it was a solid movie and an acheivement. The only reason people think otherwise is their prejudice of comic books and comic book films. And if you never read a comic book then you have no legitimate argument against me.
Don't correct by Skyblade	Jan 9th, 2001 06:27:24 AM
And don't bother to correct me on indifference's mispellings or my extra use of the word "a" at the end. It's very hard to see what I did wrong in this format, everything looks mispelled in this text and spacing
BLIND AUDIENCE? by Quilty237	Jan 9th, 2001 06:35:48 AM
It is me, or does Harry LOVE every single movie? And, to the guy who said that Gladiator would be remembered as a classic, shut your mouth, and see "Spartacus." All that Gladiator was was a ripoff, a forgettable one at that, with shallow performances, a weak script, and weak direction and cinematography. Ridley Scott's high-contrasting colors did not work for this period piece. I felt as if I was watching Russel Crowe play on a set, and was bored after 20 minutes. In addition, that stupid section with the hand touching the tall grass was reminiscent of the ridiculously tangential editing style of nowadays Oliver Stone. You sound stupid for praising a movie that wasn't even good at all, except for maybe a laugh from Kubrick in his grave, and laugh at the ridiculous "serious" scenes with Joaquin Phoenix, where the makeup artist was a little too obvious in trying to make him look ghostly. Culture yourself before you make ignorant comments. That goes for all--KNOW ABOUT MOVIES--How could you compare THE THIRD MAN, carol reed's masterpiece, to GLADIATOR?!
A Recommendation For Harry K. by Vermifax	Jan 9th, 2001 06:42:05 AM
Harry, I recommend that you see a Danish production of "Dancer In The Dark". It's written and helmed by "Breaking The Waves" autuer, Lars von Trier. It stars (along with the likes of Catherine Denueve, David Morse and Peter Stormare) one of the biggest discoveries of modern cinema, Bjork. Known for the better of the last 15 years as being a kick-ass musician, Bjork does her real acting thing for time in this film. Lars von Trier is, by no means, a perfect filmmaker. In fact, I would agree that this film is shamelessly manipulative. You actually get angry at him while watching this film. The suprise is that it WORKS! I give Bjork all the credit for making an overdramatic soap-opera...work. That's the genius of DITD. Plus, the music that Bjork composes and performes in the film is icing on the cake. I could go on forever about her. Anyway, Harry, I'm recommending that you see this film. I noticed that it wasn't on your list, convincing me that you haven't seen it. The Academy really should just FEdEx Bjork her Best Actress Oscar and shut down that category for the year. You'll agree, once you see her. (By the way, X-Men would have been a good movie if Halle Berry got good and nekkid!! Hot Damn and Hot Sauce, she is foine!!!!!)))
Spider Man???? by Hair Farmer	Jan 9th, 2001 07:14:09 AM
I was just wondering if AICN was ever going to poast a report on the Spider Man news confrence from LAST Thhursday that every other movie news site has long since repoted on? I know Harry was there he's in the background of several of Comic Continuim's photos. Whatup?
Crouching Tiger by Xfonhe	Jan 9th, 2001 07:31:52 AM
Just saw it this weekend... must say, HOLY $&^!!! Unbelievable! You are dead-on, Harry: Ang Lee has changed the 'Kung Fu flick' genre from cheese (mind you, highly enjoyable cheese), to a film category that can actually be taken seriously. *** It had better win the Oscar for best cinematography! This is a film of majestic beauty - vistas, lush forests, barren deserts, ancient cities and cultures; choreographed fight scenes which, IMHO, are unsurpassed in both their beauty and intensity. One word: WOW.
i forgot George Washington! by auteurboy	Jan 9th, 2001 07:53:41 AM
Shame on me, I forgot to include a mention of George Washington and 13 - two wonderful examples of regional American filmmaking. George Washington was also one of the most beautifully photographed films of the year and definitely the finest debut. It was refreshing to see a film by a 25 year old that wasn't grungy, noir-ish, angst-ridden slacker-ish, raunchy gross-out etc but genuinely poetic. It's the best Terrence Malick imitation I've seen (and I mean that in a highly complimentary way). 13 was also a wonderfully observed film with fine naturalistic performances by essentially non-actors. These are the true American indies - since the true indie movement is more or less dead moribund. Did any one like The Wind Will Carry Us? I confess that I still don't "get" Kiarostami. I'm sure this is my fault more than his, but world cinema lovers are ecstactic about him. I just don't understand his films. Someone please help me see what he's all about. I haven't seen CLOSE/UP which people say is his best, but I've seen A Taste of Cherry, and Through the Olive Trees and The Wind Will Carry Us. I found it hard to connect to any of them.
Gladiator is like 30% movie or smth. by XEPOBATO	Jan 9th, 2001 08:09:14 AM
Whoever wonders why Gladiator ain't on Harry's list should like remember that Harry can read and thus watch dem forin moviez. Compared to dem forin moviez like Tiger/Dragon Gladiator just doesn't cut it. Cuz like the battle scenes and the fighting was quite watchable but it was rather painful to hear Biggus Dikkus - Dikkus Maximus, whatever - deliver pensive lines like "I'm just a slave, what possible difference can I make?..." So just like me said - 30% movie, the rest - badly written and overacted tear-jerking drivel. You know, like The Replacements with swords. Watch for best-fight nomination at the MTV movie awards. See ya, bubbas!
And the nominees are.... by Andymation	Jan 9th, 2001 08:40:06 AM
.... "Gladiator", "Requiem For A Dream", "O Brother Where Art Thou", "Chicken Run", "Girl On The Bridge" and "Unbreakable"... Aw, fuck, that was 6 flics, wasn't it. Oh wait a minute, nobody gives a shit... Right... Bye!
Way to go, idiot! by Wondermutt	Jan 9th, 2001 08:46:14 AM
You call yourself a comprehensive movie site, and yet you were unable to see WonderBoys? That is pathetic, man...simply pathetic.
Yi Yi by RubyRubes	Jan 9th, 2001 08:51:34 AM
Apparently nobody has seen Yi Yi or it would be on the top 10 for eveyone's list. I haven't seen alot of the good films this year ... but here are my top 3. 1. Yi Yi 2. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 3. Before Night Falls RubyRubes **
Is it just me................ by Canazed	Jan 9th, 2001 09:15:39 AM
......or is this obsession that so many people have over Kate Hudson a bit overdone? Yes, I enjoyed "Almost Famous", however, not nearly as much as everybody else did. But why are people going so crazy about Kate Hudson? I found her annoying. I found her unattractive. Most of all, I didn't think she played the part nearly as well as most people did. Then again maybe it's just me.
Top Ten? What are you guys smoking? by Street2323	Jan 9th, 2001 09:39:49 AM
Ok Harry I've had enough. I just can't take anymore. Your top ten list is so off base it makes me wonder why you bother having a website about movies because from your list it looks like you know very little about film at all. Look I'm all for independent films but like the guy said some truly suck! You know it's like the people who say 3 Doors Down are talented and Phish sucks! Now in that case I strongly disagree (and for all you 3 doors down fans trust me I live in the town they're from, they suck!) The point is some indie films are great and some mainstream films are great too. X-Men...Great! Erin Brockovich...SUCKED! Look Gladiator was good, so was the Patriot but the perfect storm blew in more ways then one. Reqium was great but Harry sitting through 2 hours of indie crap and then touting it as one of the best films of the year makes you look like your trying to be chic and it's NOT working! Next thing you know you'll be sporting a goatee and black turtleneck on those annoying little cartoons of yours and hanging out in coffeehouses I mean give me a break. The point is just because its indie doesn't make it great and just because its a mainstream doesn't mean it sucks. So without further waste of time heres STREET's TOP FIVE... 1. X-MEN - Why ? Because Singer proved it could be done! Very little time, or money and he still pulled off the greatest comic based movie of all time (well at least until Spider-Man debuts in 2002!) 2. The Patriot - Mel does it again! How can anyone not dig this guy's work? 3. Gladiator - one word...WOW! 4. Almost Famous - Crowe is an amazing director and Kate Hudson was excellent. 5. Reqium for a dream (or however you spell it!) This one Harry and I agree on ...AMAZING. See some indie films are good...but not all of them! But hey like harry said this is my list and you have yours. Care to flame? Flame on baby Street ain't scared! But remember, Maguire for best actor in 2002 I'm calling it now Spidey WILL ROCK!
SithmasterBB, check out any industry list of the movies of 2000. by Lenny Nero	Jan 9th, 2001 10:17:07 AM
If these are on the friggin' ballot for academy awards, they count as 2000. Wide release doesn't mean shit. They came out in 2000 one way or another.
All I know is that I saw "O Brother" and "Traffic" in 2000, and by Lenny Nero	Jan 9th, 2001 10:48:51 AM
Besides, on imdb.com, they all count as 2000 movies. They are nominated for Golden Globes, and they will be for the Oscars, and certain rules must be followed to be eligible for that. They were released in 2000 one way or another, be it only in L.A. Hell, a shitload of movies don't even make it past L.A. and New York, but they still count.
the top film by benincio	Jan 9th, 2001 12:44:57 PM
Traffic is hands down the best. unbreakable was so overated by this website and was comical in its attempts to be powerful (recall the scene where the kid from gladiator threatens to shoot his dad)
MrEnigma by bender666	Jan 9th, 2001 01:47:31 PM
hey MrEnigma, i make angry posts sometimes too, i don't actually believe what i said...if no one criticized movies only crap would get made. i just wanted to see if i could make anyone pissed with me. that sure was a long rant of yours. anyway, those earthlink ads are really bizarre. i think harry's face should remain in cartoon form.
KwingKwanzaa by Eleven34	Jan 9th, 2001 02:57:03 PM
Damn man, some things need to be kept to yourself... I thought I had got bored reading another persons wrongful praise of CTHD and started making things up in my head. With the sped up rock music playing on Winamp and the post never wanting to stop I thought I had lost my damn mind. It was very surreal. Lackluster ending though, you didn't mention a damn thing about your top how-ever-many picks. Laterz, Elliott
Mole People by Black Francis	Jan 9th, 2001 03:06:20 PM
Come on Harry! Singers documentary did very little to explian these people and seemed a bit trit if you ask me. Read the book and then start talking. Nobel Prize? Jesus, relax a bit.
Nobody mentioned The Ninth Gate by By-Tor333	Jan 9th, 2001 03:07:23 PM
Just loved the Ninth Gate... great old style horror ambience... it was very badly marketed though, and probably asked too much an effort for today's audiences. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is another great one this year, and the X-Men was a nice surprise... probably the best super-hero movie I've seen (and I'm really not into super-heroes). I haven't seen that many movies this year, mainly because I was jumping from one dissapointement to another... like The Cell (this years most worthless, valueless festival of candy), American Psycho, Gladiator (come on, the story is as complex and engaging as the WWF), Perfect Storm, What Lies Beneath... and many many others I have forgotten. I haven't seen Battlefield Earth though... hehehe... not ready to cash out 10$ for something I already know is trash... it has John Travolta in it fer Christ sake!
oh I forgot another shitty movie... by By-Tor333	Jan 9th, 2001 03:26:30 PM
U-571!!! Of course, the movie where we learn that Americans believe THEY are the ones who cracked the Germans secret codes... a sorry state of affairs when our US friends have to steal other countries accomplishments and display them as their own... not to mention the movie was quite stupid, even without it's historical inaccurracies.
My 2 cents.. by cooper2000	Jan 9th, 2001 04:58:35 PM
Virgin Suicides was good but doesn't deserve to be on a Top Ten list. I think Traffic is overrated and wheres You can Count on me? A film about..."People." Talk about a crush. I love Laura Linney and the Actor who played her brother was great as well. Why hasnt this movie done better. Do the studios not know how to market movies like this? X-men I think was alittle better than a TV movie and Perfect Storm was over blown and nonsense. All the commercials touted these characters that go to a watery grave as "heroes". I tend to think of them as dumb white trash who thought of money over their families and lives and look it where that got them. The Patriot looks much the same and I refuse to see it. Gladiator turned out to be a pleasant surprise for me because the way they advertised it, it made it look like a tostosterone Braveheart imitation; it was not.
gimme a break here by Hogman	Jan 9th, 2001 08:12:28 PM
OK, I have really refrained from ever bashing Harry because, well, I just have... But Harry, keep some damn consistancy will you? Like someone else above mentioned, you acted as if Gladiator was the best movie in 10 years, but now its not in the top 15? Please! It seems like you took a list and filled it with adequate indies... Hell, you seemed to be apologizing for putting Almost Famous on the list ex. "I know this is my first studio film, but this shows you just how disappointing they are"... Gimme a break man, your list blows. What about Malena? Did you even see it? Bamboozled? Spike Lee is nothing more than a second rate "college film" director with one great movie under his belt... terrible movie... god awful... your top 5 or so are solid, but no Billy Elliott, X-men (which you love but feel its not "INDY" enough for your awful list... Nothing is more annoying to me than people who are embarassed to list movies that they feel dont fit the MOLD of a "top ten" movie, so they scatter it with mediocre movies... Where is YOU CAN COUNT ON ME? GF p.s. Wasnt "THE GRINCH" supposed to reinvent Ron Howards career? If it was so brilliant, put it on your list, if Gladiator was so brilliant, put it on your list... That list blows... and whomever mentioned the NINTH GATE, come on man, go watch your signature copy of Karate Kid 3...
Apology to X-Men by Skyblade	Jan 9th, 2001 08:55:06 PM
You're right, those who really enjoyed X-Men shouldn't refrain from putting it on top of their lists out of shame. (Note if you check out the democatic press or something somewhere, I did list it as "best of year" -back in August) Three reasons why I won't consider it a top 10 film (and those lists are bullshit anyways)is 1.I loved it but it had some plotholes-TV at the hotdog stand? 2.I'm a comics fan so I might be biased and 3.Do we really want to let X-Men be raped by the Academy and film press-no
My top 5 of 2000 AND top 5 dissapointments by Rattlesnake	Jan 9th, 2001 09:25:45 PM
Top 5: 1.Traffic 2.The Legend of Bagger Vance 3.Requiem for a Dream 4.Gladiator 5.Quills Top 5 Dissapointments (a nice way of saying "it royally SUCKED"): 1.Unbreakable 2.Cast Away 3.Meet the Parents 4.Little Nicky 5.Keeping the Faith
My top 5 of 2000 AND top 5 disappointments by Rattlesnake	Jan 9th, 2001 09:29:24 PM
Top 5: 1.Traffic 2.The Legend of Bagger Vance 3.Requiem for a Dream 4.Gladiator 5.Quills Top 5 Disappointments (a nice way of saying "it royally SUCKED"): 1.Unbreakable 2.Cast Away 3.Meet the Parents 4.Little Nicky 5.Keeping the Faith
Great list - here's one more that's worthy by Downstream	Jan 9th, 2001 09:52:49 PM
Best In Show. absolutely hilarious if you haven't seen it. right up there with This Is Spinal Tap for consistent laughs. also, Billy Elliot was very good.
The Year's Best Hooch by TillUWiseUp	Jan 9th, 2001 10:15:22 PM
My Favorite Ten Movies of The year.... 10) JUDY BERLIN, 9) PSYCHO BEACH PARTY, 8) BEST IN SHOW, 7) O BROTHER, WHERE ART THOU?, 6) YOU CAN COUNT ON ME, 5) THE VIRGIN SUICIDES, 4) REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, 3) TRAFFIC, 2) DANCER IN THE DARK, 1) ALMOST FAMOUS..... Runners up... SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE, ERIN BROCKOVICH, CECIL B. DEMENTED, CHICKEN RUN, THE EMPORER'S NEW GROOVE..........Best Director: LARS VON TRIER... Best Actor: MARK RUFFALO... Best Actress: BJORK... Best Supporting Actor: WILLEM DAFFOE.... Best Supporting Actress... KATE HUDSON.... And the biggest pieces of shit I saw all year... PAY IT FOWARD, THE PERFECT STORM, THE FAMILY MAN, BW2: BOOK OF SHADOWS, and WINTER SLEEPERS -joe
So if a movie has stylistic camera work, it's automatically poin by Sorcerer	Jan 9th, 2001 10:19:29 PM
That seems to be the attitude regarding REQUIEM FOR A DREAM. "It has lots of style, therefore it has no substance." Sounds like the criticisms that used to be directed at BLADE RUNNER. Yes, I knew going in that drugs are bad, addiction is bad, etc., but I still got my ass kicked. This film was about pure obsession, plain and simple. Yes, it was relentlessly dark- so was William Faulkner's ABSALOM, ABSALOM! Still a great book. And the CHICKEN RUN backlash- this I get even less. It's a delightful little movie with plenty of momentum, great characters, and all sorts of little things that one catches on second or third viewings, making for great replay value. Finally, the people who claim GLADIATOR is about "the damaging effects of violent [liberal] media"- if that's true, then it's the most hypocritical movie of the year. Not that it is TRULY hypocritical, because I think it was in general just portraying the way that particular government used its particular control over the arena games, a setup which does not exist today (if it did, John McCain and Joe Lieberman and all the other politicians/media watchdogs would shut the Hell up.) It's a good movie, a solid epic, but if it ends up being on my top 10, it's because I didn't see enough movies in 2000.
A New Guy's List by La Puchteca	Jan 10th, 2001 01:29:59 AM
Well, all right. Everyone else and their mothers seem to have made a list, so I might as well too. Now, I wish I could have seen all of those great and strange films that Harry saw, but the choices around here are slim. I'm lucky to have seen "Traffic", let's put it that way. So, without further ado, 'cause I'm getting bored with myself here, my list. #1) Traffic - This film combined all elements of what I wanted to see in a film this year. A substantial plot, FANTASTIC acting, except from Catherina Zeta Jones, I am convinced she couldn't act to save her life, and a emotional appeal. #2) Almost Famous - A subtle film, not trying to be flashy or pretty, but that was the beauty of it, with very memorable perfomances, even from Jason Lee. #3) Uh-oh, Gladiator - That's right, flame away Cowboys and girls, but this movie, though predictable, was still a great epic, filled with visuals of the likes of which we've never seen, and superb emotion. Well, there's my top three, and I haven't seen O' Brother, Wonder Boys, CTHD or Requiem, so please, bare with me. Also, a NOTE to HARRY, what's up with your reviews? Does any one else feel, since we are supposed "Movie Geeks" that Harry is just rubbing his lifestyle in our faces. Paraphrasing Harry: "I was going to go to a party with the Hughes Brothers, but instead I went to see Battlefield Earth." What the hell does that have to do with the review? Anyone? The Grappler, La Puchteca
I don by vrui	Jan 10th, 2001 02:45:47 AM
I
Unbreakable is the best film of the year! by The Limey	Jan 10th, 2001 06:35:59 AM
Looking at your list Harry I have to admit that I have not seen all of the films listed. I personally think you have put Unbreakable too far down your list, The Sixth Sense was awful and obvious, but Unbreakable was the most beautiful and memorable flick Ive had the pleasure to see all year. Samual L Jackson put in one of the greatest performances I have ever seen and that ending almost brought a tear to my eye with joy. As Ive already said, I havnt seen all of the films on your list, but they would have to be pretty damn good to surpass this. Oh, and I also think a trilogy would be a big mistake.
What about Gladiator, Dancer In The Dark, Billy Elliot and High by Oosters	Jan 10th, 2001 08:35:53 AM

Wow. by Sylvia Simon	Jan 10th, 2001 08:54:57 AM
Oh man, what else stirs up us geeks faster than a "who has the bigger movie penis" debate? I've been jotting down movie titles like a psycho; this topic has given me tons of movies to catch up with; I'd love to see YiYi, CTHD, Shadow of the Vampire and Wonder Boys. What the hell, here are my top three movies of 2000 that I _have_ _seen_: (1)Best in Show; (2)Hi Fidelity; (3) Erin Brockovich. I was bored stupid with Gladiator. I may watch it again just to see if I was having a bad day or if it truly sucked. Thanks for the info on all the rest of the movies out there!
10 for the Vault by bswise	Jan 10th, 2001 09:37:28 AM
Nice list, Harry. The Terrorist looked awesome, I'm impressed; your tastes are maturing. For me: 1) O Brother Where Art Thou, 2) Dancer in the Dark, 3) Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai, 4) Titus, 5) Animal Factory, 6) The Yards, 7) Traffic, 8) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 9) Requiem for a Dream, 10) Nowehere to Run. I also enjoyed Erin Brokovich, X-Men, Gladiator, State and Main, Chicken Run, Small-Time Crooks, And the Wind Will Carry Us and not much else. Theatrical release I'm most looking forward to in '01? David Lynch's uncut MULHOLAND DRIVE with new ending!
Top Ten by DarthBrose	Jan 10th, 2001 11:29:13 AM
My top ten is not all critical acclaimed films. They are films that I liked from the year 2000, and I, along with everyone else is entitled to their own opinion. No one is an expert on what everyone else should like. I am still waiting to see films like CTHD and Quills, but here is my list: 5. Meet the Parents I shit myself in this film, plain and simple. Stiller is the king of smart comedy actors. 4. Traffic I saw this last nite. It was slow, and confusing at times, but I feel this was done on purpose. It was a 'real' film, and I really enjoyed Del Toro in this one again. 3. Gladiator Some liked it, some hated it. Some found it predictable. I just thought it was a great movie. The best action movie of the year. 2. High Fidelity Cusack is great. Black is hilarious. Finally a guy relationship movie. This should be on every guys top 10 list. 1. Frequency This movie was such a suprise for me. I had no expectations when I rented it, and it blew me away. Just a good, fun movie. You can't beat frequency. The acting is fine, but the idea, the story, is what makes the movie fun. I feel that sometimes movies can be just that, a story. They don't always have to have hidden, deeper meanings. Frequency was just a fun film, and I love it.
Strain the heroin before injecting! by 999999	Jan 10th, 2001 01:03:56 PM
Harry your top 15 movies list is totally invailid, for not including Gladiator. Even the old lady that works for the library, who distains violence can see its greatness. Are you from Saturn or some other earthless gas planet? Maybe you are living "REQUIEM FOR A DREAM". please don't write any more articles! Maybe you should change the title from "Harry's Best of 2000" to "Harry has a gender identity problem brought on by adhesive snorting, best of 2000"
The Movies by HurricaneMcElroy	Jan 10th, 2001 01:15:10 PM
Just the mediocre opinions of a 16 year old. Good film is something that is entertaining, and touching. Great film you walk away from changed forever. You know when you have truly seen a great movie. This isn't my list of great movies. Or neccasarily even Good movies. Then is just the stuff I liked, and thought hey, it deserves some credit. In no particular order: Both Brockovich and Traffic (Soderbourg is the man, Out of Sight was entertaining, and I hope he can keep on delivering) Meet The Parents (easily the funniest comedy of the year) Gladiator (although it was a good movie, i just didn't feel the GREATNESS to it. Did take a lot of work to make it though) Crouching Tiger Hidden Traffic (heartfelt) Almost Famous (nostalgic in the greatest way) The Virgin Suicides (dark, and haunting yes...but so much more) You Can Count On Me (uplifting) Chicken Run, and Emperors New Groove (put some good stuff back into children's/adult entertainment) X-men (Some say a failed action flick, but I enjoyed it) High Fidelity (not near Grosse Point Blank, but it'll do) Wonder Boys, and lets through in nods for The Yards, Sunshine, Quills, Dancer In The Dar, and Billy Elliott. See them all, they're all good accomplishments to say the least
Good list, but... by Charlie B.	Jan 10th, 2001 02:59:09 PM
the one truly great film that most critics have not listed on their lists is The Contender, a film that was unfortunate to be released on the worst election year in the history of this country.
Karate Kid 3? by By-Tor333	Jan 10th, 2001 02:59:22 PM
I don't get it... In any case, if you didn't like Ninth Gate, fine... I don't expect many people to like it... it's neither got many explosions to satisfy the North American mass, which prefers lowest common denominator eye-candy... nor is it some gayish, artsy indie bore, which people who want to look smart tend to cite just to sound interesting... If you think good movies are only the ones that are Oscar worthy, fine... I tend to hate most movies that win these awards... I would instead place my vote on movies I know I will still want to watch 6 months from now. Funny thing about this site is that during the year, the movies that are mostly discussed are sci-fi, horror and the likes, but when time comes to pick the year's best, people here pick all these artsy indie flicks... Pretty hypocritical if you ask me, because we all know we'd rather sit through X-Men for repeated viewings rather than 3/4 of the stuff in everyone's lists so far. Anyway, no apology for my choice of the Ninth Gate... that one really did it for me, and I feel it went over everybody's heads. Again, I don't get the Karate Kid reference.
Time Code by mkidder	Jan 10th, 2001 03:14:08 PM
No bout a doubt it, Time Code was the best movie of the year. You talk about Crouching Tiger redefining a genre. Fuck that, try Mike Figgis redefining an industry.
wheeldealreview.com top 10 list by Wheel99	Jan 10th, 2001 03:25:30 PM
1. TRAFFIC- Smart, funny,sophisticated well acted and brilliantly filmed. Soderbergh is in top form. 2. FINDING FORRESTER- Sean Connery shows very strong acting ability and new comer Rob Brown holds his own vs. screen giants in this smart touching often funny film. 3. STATE AND MAIN- David Mamet's extremely funny satire about what happens when Hollywood meets small town New England. A great ensemble cast also help out. 4. ALMOST FAMOUS- Cameron Crowe hits this one out of the park. Sweet funny touching and moving, plus another brilliant performance from Frances McDormand. 5. REQUIEM FOR A DREAM- 4 top-notch acting performances and Director Darren Aronofsky's brilliant camera work earns this a top spot in my book. 6. GLADIATOR- Russell Crowe earns a place on the Hollywood A List in this visually stunning exciting epic. Great direction from Ridley Scott. 7. O' BROTHER WHERE ART THOU?- The usual Coen off beat humor and acting troupe get helped out by George Clooney in this beautifully filmed homage to Homer's The Odyssey. 8. X-MEN- Brian Singer's philosophy on how to adapt comics to film should be taught to every producer and director in Hollywood. Throw in Hugh Jackman nailing Wolverine and the scenes between Professor X and Magneto and you get a great popcorn action movie with bite. 9. TIGERLAND- Joel Schumacher decides to strip filmmaking down to its barest elements and come out a winner with this low budget film about soldiers in boot camp looking the Vietnam war in the face. Along the way he discovers future star Collin Farrell. 10. WONDER BOYS- A small budget low key film about a college professor and a brilliant, but troubled student. Very funny film. Michael Douglas and Toby McGuire stand out here. EDGED OUT BY A NOSE- CHICKEN RUN- Wallace and Grommet team give us the best family film of the year. U-571 Old school tension filled submarine flick. MY DOG SKIP- If you ever owned a dog this one is a tear jerker(I don't want to talk about it.)SPACE COWBOYS- Clint proves he can still kick ass. Formulaic but entertaining film. UNBREAKABLE- Either you love it or you hate it, I loved it
I think I siad this on a different talk back by critical_theory	Jan 10th, 2001 03:44:55 PM
Snake in the Monkey's Shadow. If you're a kung fu fan you need to see this movie. It's perhaps the perfect kung fu flick.
LOVE AND SEX??? by Smurfette	Jan 10th, 2001 04:10:37 PM
C'mon, Harry, haven't ya got room for ONE romantic movie?
GOTB over Crouching Tiger!?! NO WAY by DLR	Jan 10th, 2001 04:25:45 PM
I'm sorry Harry, but my honest opinion is that WU HU ZANG LONG (Crouching Tiger,Hidden Drangon)is simply the best film of 2000. I've never seen Girl On the Bridge, but I seriously doubt it has the Heart & Soul of CTHD. Also, I must thoroughly suggest that you go see "Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai" directed by Jim Jarmusch because it is one of the strikingly original film's I have ever seen. Both Ang Lee(CTHD) and Jarmucsh are NYU(New York Uni.)film grads. Curious enough, Ang is from Taiwan and Jim is from Akron, Ohio.
you're all wack as hell by curtdog	Jan 10th, 2001 04:30:44 PM
Looks like we got ourselves a collection of homosexuals, pedophiles, and animal-fuckers here. That said, here's my list. 1. Gladiator 2. Meet the Parents. 3. Oh Brother Were Art Thou 4. The Patriot 5. X-men hmmmmmm this is getting hard, so many classics to chose from... 6. Keeping the Faith 7. Ready to Rumble. 8. Charlie's Angels. 9. American Psycho 10. Mission to Mars. Yeah, I liked it, just like I enjoyed the hummer your mom gave me the other day, but that wasn't as good. I have yet to see Wonder Boys, Crouching Tiger, and Almost Famous. Also, the most over-rated movies of the year were Traffic and Requiem. They were good, but it's been done before, better. Just because a decent drama finally emerges doesn't meen you should shoot your load all over it. And my vote for the wort movie of the year, even worse than Battlefield Earth goes to Unbreakable. I wish I had known it was a comedy going in, I might have laughed harder. Fuck you all. Where's the handle to flush this shit-hole?
TOP 10!!!!!!!!!!!! by G-BOY	Jan 10th, 2001 05:32:01 PM
First this -- OSCARS SUCK!!!!! and I also agree with the love of independent films to make you look smarter --- what the hell is that all about??? There were some truly GREAT studio films put out this year. Probably better than the independent CRAP released. Anyway, my list: 1)TRAFFIC -- Simply an amazing film,2) UNBREAKABLE -- if you say you saw that ending coming you're a friggin liar,3) GLADIATOR -- I don't understand how anyone couldn't like this film,4)ALMOST FAMOUS - great in it's storytelling and subtlety,5)REMEMBER THE TITANS-- don't knock it until you've seen it,6) FREQUENCY -- suprisingly good, 7)CAST AWAY -- island scenes are spectacular, if the last 20 minutes were cut out would be one of the years best, 8) HIGH FIDELITY -- Cusack and Black are awesome!!!! 9) CROUPIER -- characters were well written and story solid, 10) PERFECT STORM -- all of you who feel it popular to bash this movie, fine. I thought the special effects were incredible and it had a very interesting and sad story. Keep in mind, I haven't seen CTHD, Requiem, Wonder Boys, or OH, Brother Where Art Thou (HUGE COHEN BROTHERS FAN!!!!! -- By the way, in my opinion, Fargo is their best work to date)but I'm sure the'll all make my list. Worst movie I've seen this year has to be HOLLOW MAN -- Gut wrenchingly awful!!!!!!!!!!!
SithmasterBB, we are not debating over whether or not they will by Lenny Nero	Jan 10th, 2001 05:42:39 PM
Jesus Christ, man.
Everyone! Important! Read here now! by Lenny Nero	Jan 10th, 2001 05:48:07 PM
For those of you who have seen the argument between myself and SithmasterBB, listen to me. Read all of his posts, and read mine concerning his (I know I'm prone to correcting people, but it's just a habit, nothing cynical). SithmasterBB has been saying some incredibly stupid things, and he won't give up. We must fight against this stupidity. SithmasterBB is the type of person that gets kicked off AICN every now and then. All he wants is a fight, and he'll stop at nothing. E-mail me now, and we can at least petition. I normally wouldn't do this, but stupidity can't continue like this.
Besides, Sith, all the movies you mentioned ("O Brother," "Vampi by Lenny Nero	Jan 10th, 2001 05:51:35 PM
And in the words of Will Ferrell, "Suck on that!"
harry on crack. maybe...but he still picks them like the best by samman64	Jan 10th, 2001 05:53:56 PM
as editor of the northern light's entertainment section, ive gotta admit that i this year has been one of the worst years of studio movies in a long time. damnit hollywood. ive wasted a shitload of time watching a shitload of shitty movies but in the end my quest for the holy grail was ulitimalty fulfilled by the crouching tigers, requiems, girlfights etc. i think i can totally agree with most of harrys picks (granted you throw out unbreakable because just what the hell was that about) except he left out the one good movie hollywood has made this year: gladiator. persoanlly, russel crowes "acting" in insider really pissed me off but now ive got ultimate respect for the man after watching gladatioar. unforutanlty, we wont see all those movies in this years oscars. instead, i wouldnt be suprised if shit like erin brockvich got it (dont get me wrong, i loved julia's cleavage but just why the hell didnt she show nipple). althogh, my top 5 (as if anyone cares) are: crouching tiger traffic requiem girlfight gladiator . thanks harry carrey for being the man.
HIGH FIDELITY & BEST IN SHOW! by F For Fake	Jan 10th, 2001 06:12:01 PM
Two great movies that will most likely be forgotten in all of the year end awards hubbub. At least they made the AFI list.
why i agree that requiem is the number one movie by jackfoley19	Jan 10th, 2001 07:31:11 PM
i havent ever submitted any responses to talkback before, just read what other people had to say... i guess ive just never felt as strongly about any of the topics as i do about "requiem for a dream". i live in a small town and all we used to have to see movies was a mega cinema that only showed the big movies... not until recently had anyone had the idea to open up a theater to show lesser hyped films... it couldn't have happened at a better time. Just as I had returned home for vacation from college, i noticed that "requiem" was playing at this new theater. i hadn't read your review or any others for that matter of this movie. It just didn't seem to spark any interest... but one night my friends and i decided to go and see it. Not once have i ever walked out of a movie theater wanting that exact moment to go back inside and see that movie again... and again until i was sure that what i saw on screen was indeed what i saw. my friends and i were awestruck at the intensity of the film. Burstyn's performance hands down gets all awards it deserves. Leto was good but nothing to write home about and Jen Connelly is possibly one of the most beautiful women i forgot existed. The performance i was most stricken with was that of marlon wayans... where did this "talent" come from... after watching the MTV music awards i thought that the youngest of the wayans' was truly a waste. I was proven wrong with this movie. However the thing that struck me the most about this movie was the last ball breaking 15 minutes. i never felt so distraught for a character in a film as i did for the 4 in this one. The tragic decay of mrs. goldfarb and sadness i felt when i knew that harry wasn't coming home... not that there was much of a home to come back too... but i can't put into words how the ending of this movie affected me. truly the only bright note this film has is the soundtrack which for some reason i was compelled to buy the first chance i got.
in short declarative words...GLADIATOR IS FUCKING OVERHYPED by revam	Jan 11th, 2001 12:42:26 AM
look at some of the posts above, they're obviously cut-and-paste reviews paid by dreamworks. Non-aligned real reviewers never mentions gladiator in thier top 10. It's nothing but a popcorn flick. If that is the case, like someone said above, then let's have X-Men, Battlefield earth and those nicolas cage movies that are nothing but rip-offs of genre predecessors. And please, don't even compare CTHDragon with Gladiator. CTHDragon broke cinematic rules, a rare achievement in today's cinema. Meanwhile, Gladiator ripped-off every single filmmaking style I could imagine! From Spartacus to even...fucking NYPD blue's camerawork! It's pathetic!
in short declarative words...GLADIATOR IS FUCKING OVERHYPED by revam	Jan 11th, 2001 12:42:31 AM
look at some of the posts above, they're obviously cut-and-paste reviews paid by dreamworks. Non-aligned real reviewers never mentions gladiator in thier top 10. It's nothing but a popcorn flick. If that is the case, like someone said above, then let's have X-Men, Battlefield earth and those nicolas cage movies that are nothing but rip-offs of genre predecessors. And please, don't even compare CTHDragon with Gladiator. CTHDragon broke cinematic rules, a rare achievement in today's cinema. Meanwhile, Gladiator ripped-off every single filmmaking style I could imagine! From Spartacus to even...fucking NYPD blue's camerawork! It's pathetic!
The year of irresponsible films. by death_stick	Jan 11th, 2001 01:06:26 AM
First, I could start with Gladiator, reading over Ebert's review, there are many historical flaws, but those occur in film, and I don't expect them to be accurate, but I just think if the filmed delved into what made Roman culture click, as it is one of the greatest civilizations in history, unique, and so influential on what we are today, yet the film only refers to a faceless "mob" and we fail to even understand what makes them so receptive to this faceless warrior. Second, Sebastian Junger is a sell out, anyone who read his brilliant book, must have been whole heartedly displeased with its film translation. In fact, there never should have been any film at all. "The Perfect Storm" completely dishonors these men, not only by turning fateful moments of their lives into mindless action, but also by speculating on their decisions and mindsets. Let us remember that the ship has never been found, along with the bodies of the fisherman, there is nothing to back up what is presented in the movie. Bottom line: real names of real people, who suffered in this tradgedy were manipulated into eye candy and cheesy dialogue. An atrocity. Thirdly, Erin Brokovich, yes Steven Soderbergh is a talented filmmaker, and he does have at least one movie to showcase his talents this year, but it is not Erin Brokovich. Instead of a tale of "fighting the good fight," this is more about how the use of tacky fasion choices can help somebody to climb the social ladder. Yes, the woman's story may be inspiring, and she may be proud of how she did things, but unfortunately this film showcases a woman's flesh more than a woman's intuition, and the message is lost. Fourth, after Battlefield Earth, L. Ron Hubbard is spinning in his grave. 'Nuff said. Fifth, I had high hopes for The Contender, Gary Oldman's character looked intriguing, and Joan Allen is always Strong, just looking at her performance as Pat Nixon, I knew she would be great in this too. Let me say that out of all of the individual performences are wonderful in this film, but as a whole, it just makes for a very good afternoon soap. Not only is this movie left-wing propoganda, but it fails to ever give an accurate look at what politicians are good at, neutrality. Not since McCarthy have politicians been so bold, and rule one of the game is to offend as few as possible, and I doubt a Senator would ever be as blunt as Gary Oldman's character, this movie contains more fantasy than the upcoming Lord of the Rings ever will. This was a shitty, shitty year for films, and the month of August and September in 1999 contained better films than this entire year. Let's hope 2001, will be a far better year, or we all may be lying in a bed somewhere staring at star-children.
In my diatribe, I left out Mission to Mars by death_stick	Jan 11th, 2001 01:12:01 AM
This is the product of sheer lack of creativity and imagination. A film that seeks to answer every question and life's greatest mysteries, is not a work of art. Thank you, children of Mars. P.S. All respect for DePalma has been thrown out the window, and a piano has been dropped on whatever is left of him.
HARRYS MOVIE PICS by KIWIBOB	Jan 11th, 2001 03:36:38 AM
HEY HARRY I ENJOYED YOUR MOVIE TOP 15 BUT HERE IN NEW ZEALAND WE HAVNT SEEN HALF OF THEM. I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE SICK OF HEARING ABOUT GLADIATOR BUT IT WAS A DAMN GOOD FILM,BUT I AM BIASED. PS. MY FLATMATE GOT A SCENE IN LOTR WHILE HE WAS WORKING IN QUEENSTOWN NEW ZEALAND.SEE YA MATE
instead of "fuck you all" by curtdog	Jan 11th, 2001 03:37:49 AM
can I change it to a special "fuck you" to the say, 50% of the people here that have stupid opinions? You know, the regulars here. After reading some more of the posts I was surprised that some of them were actually sane, which is weird.
Gladiator? X-Men? by NeoCyber	Jan 11th, 2001 09:19:05 AM
Please, dont get to worked up over Gladiator, it really wasn;t that spectacular of a film. All in all the fight scenes were medicocre the acting was tongue in cheek (especially in regards to Jauqin Pheonix) and the story was hollow and predictable. Cool Cinematography and Direction but the story and the acting just ruin it. Saying it goes on the mantle with Unforgiven and Citizen Kane is ridiculous. And As for X-Men. I mean for God's sake the second I saw Ian Mckellan in that helmet i knew the film was a bust. What kind of self respecting teenage girl runs around calling herself Rogue? 'Hi Im Rogue" LOL it was the most ridiculous part of the film...oh but wait I spoke to soon, Halle Berry mightve been the most ridiciulous part of the film with her cheesy accent and her terrible horrible 4 dollar thrift store wig. And that flying scene. I mean there is a point in X-Men, I think it might be somewhere between the X-Jet scene and the Plastic Cell scene where you can just see that these people just RAN OUT OF CASH. The Wolverine\Mystic scene was just plain laughable. What as with the bright red lights? Did someone let Joel Shumacher take over for a little while? Anyway, While they certainly werent perfect films, I think Unbreakable, Chicken Run, Traffic, Girl Fight, Requiem for a Dream, and (even though the action scenes were a little er...uh...nevermind) Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon were the best of the year.
Oh Well by Flutterby	Jan 11th, 2001 10:36:32 AM
While I haven't seen as many movies this past year that I wish I could have I'll say my two favorites were Gladiator and The Patriot. I know, I know, most people have bashed Patriot relentlessly but I found it to be a most enjoyable movie and I went to the theater twice to see it. As for the worst..... American Psycho. I can't believe Christian Bale actually starred in this movie. It was such a disappointment. The only reason I didn't stop watching in the middle of it was because of Bale. What comes as a close second to worst is Mission to Mars. So much could have been done with this movie that wasn't. What a waste.
OK, List is severely lacking by AMUSIX	Jan 13th, 2001 07:12:18 AM
Well, this is the first time I'm poasting to this site I've been reading for years, I just couldn't stay silent on this one. While I agree with a lot on this list, and am unable t comment on some which I have not seen yet..three stood out to me. First, Unbreakable really failed in what it set out to do, not to mention the akward pacing of the film and of the editing. Second, Bamboozled is not a bad film. Not by any means. However, I saw absolutely nothing new here. Some good performances, nothing spectacular, and the same Spike Lee bled-to-death diatribe I've seen in movie after movie. I like his material, and his style, but there was nothing fantastically moving in this outing. Finally, Chicken Run. I can't honestly list this as one of the top 10 movies of the year...especially not above Girlfight and Traffic. What would I put in place of these three? Well, Gladiator certainly deserves a nod, especially if you were even thinking of considering Chicken Run and Unbreakable. A film like gladiator is an incredible ambitious project, for all involved, and the final product cannot be said to have failed. There are very few modern epics that are worth the price of a matinee ticket, yet here stands one worthy of not only the money, but the time invested in viewing it. Next, I would add Charlie's Angels. Now I KNOW this will instantly give me a bad name among the crowd here, but I'll explain myself. CA did ONE thing better than any other film this year...it entertained. The script, the cast, the plot, and the crew were all less than stellar, yet the minutes spent watching it were FUN. I find in most people's 'best of' lists this is the single most overlooked criteria, and unfortunately so. Finally, to fill the third void I would have to go with none other than Better Off Dead, simply because it belongs on EVERY 'best of' list of movies. No matter WHAT the list may supposedly encompass, "You like raisins" will always deserve a place. Oh well, guess that's just how I saw it.
Okay, so wait, let me get this straight... by heywood jablomie	Jan 13th, 2001 07:48:20 AM
...is absolutely everybody who posts here some kind of D&D geek? People ARGUING over the "merits" or lack thereof of "Gladiator"? Can I please say...get...a....LIIIIIIIIIIII IIIIIFE!!!!
Harry's picks by indie4me	Jan 13th, 2001 02:04:04 PM
Oh man! You are so right on Harry! I was really glad to see that someone included The Virgin Sucicides on there top films of 2000 I loved it too! It was so well done :) Thanks Harry :)
Top Movies (I saw) in 2000..here goes by Seany	Jan 13th, 2001 04:08:56 PM
Almost Famous, Traffic, Gladiator, Oh Brother Where Art Though, Castaway I would have to say Almost Famous and Traffic were prett amazing and moving in different ways.. Was anyone really moved by the last scene of Traffic...I thought it was really touching.. Worst Film - Vertical Limit..what a waste of time... I think the oscars should give a special award for Best performance by a Basketball too...Wilson..
please explain by epluribusunum	Jan 15th, 2001 12:36:43 PM
why are films nominated for awards before released? Shadow of the Vampire. Also, what months do the film year (oscars) begin & end? Thanks!
Almost Famous by spinn13	Jan 16th, 2001 02:55:54 PM
I agree with everything you said about Almost Famous. A positively uplifting experience. And as for Kate Hudson....I was at her 21st birthday party last Spring and she truly is a beauty to behold (and so is her mom!). Too bad she went and married that has-been what's-his-name (I'd try to remember, but his fifteen minutes expired about a decade ago)
Top This List! by O'Brien	Jan 19th, 2001 01:54:57 AM
1. HUMANITE 2. CRIMINAL LOVERS 3. THE COLD WAR 4. STATE AND MAIN 5. THE GIFT 6. SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE 7. KIKUJIRO 8. CROUCHING TIGER HIDDEN DRAGON 9. CHUCK AND BUCK 10. LEMKIN'S LAST SALE... Hey, guys! Watch more art films!
And Lest I Forget... by O'Brien	Jan 19th, 2001 02:01:21 AM
THE NINTH GATE really belongs near the top of that list. A film shamefully misplaced in the early winter months... someday we will all sit down to enjoy a nice Polanski retrospective and remark wistfully to ourselves, "Why weren't we nicer to THE NINTH GATE?"
MY top 10....feel free to respond to my picks any way you wish b by Tree0404	Jan 19th, 2001 12:54:14 PM
My name is Daine Crabtree and I am a junior at Hamilton Southeastern High School. I have my own movie reveiew website, which you can check out at www.treereviews.8k.com Without Further ado, my top 10 of the year #1 Gladiator (**) #2 Cast Away () #3 Men of Honor (* 1/2) #4 Rules of Engagement (* 1/2) #5 Nurse Betty (* 1/2) #6 Almost Famous (*) #7 Boiler Room () #8 Pay It Forward () #9 Unbreakable () #10 Pitch Black (**) Overlooked-Pitch Black, Nurse Betty...Pitch Black is the ultimate Bad-Ass movie w/ Vin Diesel and Nurse Betty was quite a good flick as well. Men of Honor was also over-looked. I liked it a lot. Perhaps I over-rated Rules of Engagement, but I liked the court scene so much, i had to put it on there. Indytree@att.net is my email www.treereviews.8k.com is my site THANKS
Gladiator - Overated and then some by MachineHead	Jan 19th, 2001 02:29:08 PM
Why the fuss of this by-the-numbers popcorn Mcmovie not making the list? Talk about overated. It was decent but nothing more. Give the oscar to CTHD, Traffic anything but another over hyped Titanic-style "event" movie, taking the awards due to the real classic movie.
The Virgin Suicides by jak flash 2000	Jan 22nd, 2001 09:45:21 AM
Harry I am dissapointed about your opinions. The Virgin Suicides was nothing but a dissapointment to me. (SPOILERS)And the fact that there was no propper end to the film or an explanation just took the biscuit. We know what happenes to the girls in the film. They commit suicide of cource. But we watch the film to find out whay and as we never find out even at the end. Well how awfull! (END SPOILERS). Dont get me wrong people I agree that Sofia Coppolas direction was brilliant as was the soundtrack and the cinematography. But the fact that the above happened. And he says its one of the bests?! Unbreakable now that was good stuff. But then as a comic fan I suppose I would love it. X Men was also brilliant but silly at times. Billy Elliot was the best film of the year for me and it has to be seen to be believed. Times like that I feel proud to British. If you want to see some reviews and my top ten and bottom five, then visit www.thakksy.co.uk I contribute reviews to the owner now and again. See you at the movies.
Crouching Tiger by BuddhistFist	Jan 23rd, 2001 05:53:51 AM
Couldnt agree more. I havent seen Requiem for a dream yet But for me Crouching Tiger was the most significant movie of the year. Scorn is usually poured onto kung fu movies due to worn out cliches but yet it is the most dynamic movie genre i know.
personal top 15 by Bluntmatt	Jan 23rd, 2001 07:10:59 AM
Officer jim here for my personal best of 2000. Actually i'm french so you'll notive that a lot of movies on my list came out during 1999 in the US but we only had them this year in France. Anyway, here goes: 1 Magnolia (I want to comment on this one . I saw it in march when it came out and it has been haunting me ever since. everytime i listened to the soundtrack i would get images of the film coming at me. i had chances to see it again but I never did because i didnt want to be disappointed. I recently bought the dvd and now i watch it over and over and everytime i'm like "fuck, that is exactly why i love movies" also, i've taken my ID from it and the fact that Cruise didn't get his oscar proves that Miramax is paying the voters) 2 The Insider 3 American beauty 4 Three kings 5 The Yards 6 Sleepy Hollow 7 Crouching tiger Hidden Dragon 8 Princess Mononoke 9 O'Brother Where Art thou (which was released in france in august) 10 Gladiator 11 Sixth sense 12 Harry, un ami qui vous veut du bien (a very clever french thriller) 13 le go
not a bad list by huggy bear	Jan 23rd, 2001 10:41:31 AM
great call on virgin suicides.thank you for leaving the over-hyped gladiator off.traffic was very good.where is your worst list?
My Insignifigant Top Fifteen, by Dannato, who is fairly educated by Dannato1	Jan 23rd, 2001 04:28:33 PM
Anyone complaining about this year just didn't go to the movies. Here's my top fifteen but there are at least a dozen others I'd recommend. 1) Waking the Dead (Keith Gordon) 2) Traffic (Steven Soderbergh) 3) Dancer in the Dark (Lars Von Trier) 4) Almost Famous (Cameron Crowe) 5) Requiem for a Dream (Darren Aronofsky)6) In The Mood For Love (Wong Kar-Wai) 7) The Virgin Suicides (Sophia Coppola) 8) Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Ang Lee) 9) You Can Count on Me (Ken Lonergan) 10)Shadow of the Vampire (E. Elias Merhige) 11) Snatch (Guy Ritchie) 12)Timcode (Mike Figgis) 13)Jesus' Son (Alison Maclean) 14)Wonder Boys (Curtis Hanson)15)O Brother Where Art Thou? (Joel Coen). And the prize for most overinflated overrated Hollywood piece of shit that's going to win the Oscar therefore shattering my belief in God and the moral fabric of the universe: Gladiator. It sucked guys. Deal with it. Later, Dannato
HUH? by w_buhr	Jan 24th, 2001 11:06:27 AM
Harry, you fat blob, how could you see unbreakable four times and not see wonder boys once??! You are a complete hack, and this site is a sham. You see and review the shittiest movies and then a good one finally comes along and its "didnt get around to it"??? Put down your hero sandwich and big gulp and get over to the theater, blob.
2 cents by bswise	Jan 29th, 2001 10:11:58 AM
OK, after catching up and reevaluating things a bit, I've decided that ranking movies are complete and utter BS. That said, I think this is Harry's best year-end "Top Films" lists since the site went up. THE TERRORIST?! (Didn't see) DARK DAYS?! (Amazing) Very mature choices from a, dare-I-believe-it, maturing movie critic. That said, here are the best 15 flicks of 2000 (that I was aware of anyway), in alphabetical order: Animal Factory, Best of Show, Chuck and Buck, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Dancer in the Dark, Dark Days, Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai, O Brother Where Art Thou, Requiem For a Dream, Shadow of A Vampire, State and Main, A Time for Drunken Horses, Traffic, The Yards, Yi-Yi.
Oh yeah, I forgot TITUS by bswise	Jan 29th, 2001 10:14:36 AM

Umm... by Tir Na Nog	Jan 30th, 2001 11:34:18 PM
Ghost Dog: Way of the Samurai cannot be on a list of the best of 2000 because it was part of the golden age of cinema. That's right, 1999!!! Ahhh, those were the days. Long may they shine in our memories.
High Fidelity???? by Professor Von Wa	Jan 31st, 2001 11:43:04 AM
Well, well, where to start....Henery you've got great taste in movies dude. Although I havn't seen all the movies on your pics for 2000 the ones I did i totally agree with you ....well almost. I think Gladiator sucked royally. There's no way that it was a better movie than High Fidelity, but thats just my opinion.
3 of the forgotten by CinemaInsanity	Feb 1st, 2001 08:51:39 PM
I agree with everything on that list. But you forgot 3 of the greats. Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai. Jarmusch doesn't disapoint and shows he has matured. Dancer In The Dark (does this really need an explanation?) and Cecil B Demented, just because no one makes movies like John Waters. And Anyone who thinks Gladiator belongs on this list I have this to say. It was a good flick but I saw it years ago when it was called Spartacus.
#16 maybe? by KILLAVANILLA	Feb 3rd, 2001 04:43:32 PM
Hi Harry you must have BOYS & GIRLS at #16 on that list! Too bad we just missed the cut off! Oh well there's always next year!
correction, sithmaster... by coytuck	Feb 5th, 2001 08:37:23 AM
for the 1999 academy awards TITUS was nominated for art direction, and it was released on XMAS DAY in 1999, only in new york and l.a. and wasn't in national release until february 11, 2000. also, TOPSY-TURVY was nominated for TWO oscars and was only released in nyc, and l.a. on december 15 of '99 for what they referred to as an "oscar engagement." the film was released nationwide january 11 of 2000. the oscars will allow any film eligibility for that present year as long as it's released in at least one U.S. city during that same calendar year. it happens all the time. now the GRAMMY AWARDS sound more like what you're talking about. take it easy
Way Of The Gun by nelsonalgren	Feb 6th, 2001 06:10:48 PM
first time caller, long time listener..... just thought that way of the gun should be mentioned, plus, even though I love crime films, I don't think it's a case of bias to say that Benicio del Toro threw out a better performance in 'Gun' than in Traffic.
BEST OF 2000- Requiem for a Dream is #1!!!!!! by pckelly	Feb 8th, 2001 08:53:22 PM
These are the best films of 2000, no matter what anyone says. 1) REQUIEM FOR A DREAM- THE MOST POIGNANT MOVIE EVER MADE, 4 great performances, Ellen Burstyn is so touching as she melts down, Marlon Wayans is surprisingly moving! brilliant score, as good as the music in "Being John Malkovich," if you didn't like this movie, it provides a scary measure of your values, that you have no sympathy for these human beings, Film's gift is that it lets you sympathize with other people, Darren Aronofsky's film gave me that gift 2) SHADOW OF THE VAMPIRE- met the director, E. Elias Merhige, at the Deep Ellum Film Festival; he's as cool as his film 3) GIRL ON THE BRIDGE- director Patrice Leconte is the best! beautiful music, beautiful black & white cinematography, beautiful female lead 4) THE CELL- gorgeous masterpiece, Jennifer Lopez is timeless, I defy anyone to say that the ending isn't brilliant and the suspense scenes aren't spellbinding 5) ALMOST FAMOUS- the warmest and most memorable experience I've had at the movies in a long time, Kate Hudson is the most beautiful and charming woman I've ever seen! her character's entrance in the movie makes her immortal 6) CROUCHIN TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON- exquisite and beautiful, the fight scene in the trees is amazing, the fight near the beginning of the film with Jade Fox is so well done and the music is so riveting! 7) TRAFFIC- sobering and frustrating masterpiece with a great ending that (this may sound corny) gives hope for a new generation 8) WONDER BOYS- sweet and quirky gem with the best Michael Douglas performance ever 9) YOU CAN COUNT ON ME- the best script of the year, warmly combining perfect human comedy with human nature 10) THE VIRGIN SUICIDES- I can understand why someone wouldn't like this film, but it does linger hauntingly in the mind 11) THE COLOR OF PARADISE- an Iranian film of great visual beauty that gives you goosebumps 12) CHICKEN RUN- a great-looking masterpiece, solid story and the craftsmanship gives you a sigh of gratitude 13) HIGH FIDELITY- John Cusack is always great, a literate and charming movie that is destined for a future on video 14) CHOCOLAT- I enjoyed it very much, good photography and I loved Juliette Binoche with her rosey cheeks and smile 15) CROUPIER- some people may not like the twist at the end, but the movie handles it with perfect pitch and timing 16) THE CONTENDER- Joan Allen is great and teaches an important lesson, and Gary Oldman, despite his contempt for the film, is brilliant 17) JESUS' SON- poetic and entertaining, Billy Crudup is going to be a major actor in the future 18) DARK DAYS- good looking and involving, to shoot in black & white is a masterstroke, to remove the pain and the ugliness of homelessness and allow you to identify with these people 19) DANCER IN THE DARK- a brilliant film that sharply divided audiences 20) QUILLS- Grisly, grotesque, and brilliant, Geoffrey Rush shows true pain in his performance 21) GIRLFIGHT- electrifying performance and direction, great musical theme 22) THE HOUSE OF MIRTH- it may be boring, but it is a riveting adaptation 23) BEST IN SHOW- when you're not laughing you're amazed at the comic tension 24) GHOST DOG- entertaining comedy and poignant character study 25) TIME REGAINED- visually imaginative adaptation of Proust's work 26) TITUS- great film that rings you out and has you cheering at its climax 27) L'HUMANITE- hypnotic and shocking police procedural 28) MEET THE PARENTS- Ben Stiller is a comic genius and Robert DeNiro is so good in everything he does, this movie is funny 29) AN AFFAIR OF LOVE- challenging sex film 30) BEFORE NIGHT FALLS- harrowing and lyrical biography with a rich canvas of visuals that show director Julian Schnabel's painting touch 31) IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE- bittersweet and riveting love story 32) GEORGE WASHINGTON- lush photography and narrative reminds you of "Days of Heaven" 33) THE TERRORIST- works on every level and deals with every issue that arouses from the story 34) TITAN A.E.- great animation 35) NURSE BETTY- Neil Labute is one of our best directors and Renee Zellweger and Morgan Freeman are fantastic 36) THE FILTH AND THE FURY- rousing documentary about the Sex Pistols 37) YI YI- another good film that needs a wider release! 38) AMERICAN PSYCHO- Christian Bale just sinks his teeth into the part 39) CAST AWAY- the island scences were great and Tom Hanks was compelling 40) THE GIFT- Sam Raimi's style is evident in every film he makes
WORST OF 2000- Gladiator is the most overrated piece of shit eve by pckelly	Feb 8th, 2001 10:00:17 PM
Good riddance to these horrible movies: 1) BATTLEFIELD EARTH- shockingly bad, I will never get tired of making fun of it; 2) THE FLINTSTONES IN VIVA ROCK VEGAS- how can they charge you money for a movie you would pay to get out of?; 3) CHARLIE'S ANGELS- brainless and odd movie; 4) BEAUTIFUL- awful movie by Sally Field; 5) WHAT PLANET ARE YOU FROM?- shockingly flat comedy; 6) THE NEXT BEST THING- Madonna is terrible in a very bad movie; 7) GLADIATOR- THE MOST OVERRATED PIECE OF SHIT EVER MADE! you supporters are just labeling it as a "historic epic" when "Titus" is dramatically superior; 8) THE SKULLS- lame thriller with laughs in all the wrong places; 9) THE GRINCH- one of those annual reminders that the junk often rises to the top of the box office; 10) WHAT LIES BENEATH- derails completely; more that I suffered through- SCREAM 3, ROAD TRIP, READY TO RUMBLE, THE ART OF WAR, DUDE, WHERE'S MY CAR?, BLESS THE CHILD, AUTUMN IN NEW YORK, GONE IN SIXTY SECONDS, PAY IT FORWARD, DRACULA 2000, MISS CONGENIALITY (Sandra Bullock was good though), BAMBOOZLED (satire completely missed the mark and became offensive, also had ugly 16mm photography because no studio would touch this dreck), A PIECE OF EDEN, ROMEO MUST DIE, WHATEVER IT TAKES, SNOW DAY, THE LITTLE VAMPIRE, BOOK OF SHADOWS: BLAIR WITCH 2, LUCKY NUMBERS, ERIN BROCKOVICH (sometimes entertaining but completely unconvicing and silly serious movie, loved Julia's tits but she dresses like a hooker in every scene, making her character frivilous! "She's fighting against these polluters" but all we are thinking about is that cleavage), ISN'T SHE GREAT, DROWNING MONA, HERE ON EARTH, DOWN TO YOU, LITTLE NICKY, HOLLOW MAN (Spike Jonze could probably do a good job with this premise, but this movie doesn't take advantage of that great premise!), GROOVE, SAVING GRACE (most pretentious movie of the year), JUDY BERLIN (so bad! sickening for some reason) Now we are starting off this year with DOUBLE TAKE, ANTITRUST, THE INVISIBLE CIRCUS, THE MILLION DOLLAR HOTEL, and oh my god!!!!!!!!- THE AMATI GIRLS.
1999 was better than 2000; HERE ARE THE BEST OF THE 90's AND 199 by pckelly	Feb 9th, 2001 07:36:33 AM
These are the best of the 1990s: 1) DARK CITY- Has the richest visuals I've ever seen in a film. I watch this beautiful movie over and over and my eyes just drink the screen in. Alex Proyas proves, as he did in "The Crow," that he is a visual master. A brilliantly constructed and spiralling film that spoke on a personal level to me, like all great films should; 2) BEING JOHN MALKOVICH- A masterful comedy and a very entertaining film from a bright new director, Spike Jonze. But in its depths, it is a brilliant and challenging philisophical work of art. Stunning climax, surprisingly moving when John Malkovich looses his soul. When Craig is "absorbed" into the "next vessel" it is moving and despairing; 3) THE HAIRDRESSER'S HUSBAND- A unique and memorable ode on death and love from Patrice Leconte. I loved the Arabian music that Leconte seems to be fascinated with. A deep film; 4) SANTA SANGRE- Alejandro Jodorowsky's 1990 masterpiece deserves to be a cult hit. Visually original and stylized circus fantasy; 5) EVE'S BAYOU- A poetic and resonating analyzation and reconstruction of memory. Kasi Lemmon's evocatively photographed film has a beautifully textured, symmetrical ending that stays in the mind; 6) EXOTICA- Atom Egoyan's textured and gently revealing film that generates enormous power; 7) HOOP DREAMS- Great Documentary, I'm still mystified that it didn't at least get a documentary nomination; 8) SCHINDLER'S LIST- Steven Spielberg's attention to detail reminded me of the work of Stanley Kubrick and Alex Proyas. Moving ending- the image of the survivors at the end of the horizon is one of the greatest scenes ever put on film; 9) FARGO- The Coen brothers are poking fun with a big heart to their native Minnesotans. Roger Deakins' photography is beutiful stuff- looks great in black & white as well; 10) MENACE II SOCIETY- I can't recall identifying so much with a main character in a movie since "Citizen Kane." High praise for one of the best directed films of the decade, by the Hughes brothers; Painfully omitted- MABOROSI, GOODFELLAS, PULP FICTION, THREE COLOURS TRILOGY, LEAVING LAS VEGAS, MALCOLM X, JFK, MONSIEUR HIRE, PRINCESS MONONOKE, BOYS DON'T CRY, CASINO, A SIMPLE PLAN, SONATINE, BABE: PIG IN THE CITY, THE SWEET HEREAFTER, BREAKING THE WAVES, EVERYONE SAYS I LOVE YOU, BOUND, KALIFORNIA, NATURAL BORN KILLERS, FORREST GUMP, FRESH, THE CROW, THE LAST SEDUCTION, TO LIVE, BOOGIE NIGHTS, JACKIE BROWN, MICROCOSMOS, L.A. CONFIDENTIAL, MAGNOLIA, THREE KINGS, THE WAR ZONE, EYES WIDE SHUT, AMERICAN BEUATY, PLEASANTVILLE, SAVING PRIVATE RYAN, DEAD MAN WALKING, NIXON, THE AGE OF INNOCENCE, THE PIANO, THE JOY LUCK CLUB, ONE FALSE MOVE, FLIRTING, THE CRYING GAME, THE GRIFTERS; The best of 1999- 1) BEING JOHN MALKOVICH; 2) PRINCESS MONONOKE; 3) BOYS DON'T CRY (met director Kimberly Peirce at the Dallas Film Festival); 4) MAGNOLIA; 5) THREE KINGS; 6) THE WAR ZONE; 7) EYES WIDE SHUT (one last spooky vision from Stanley Kubrick); 8) AMERICAN BEAUTY; 9) SLEEPY HOLLOW (so atmospheric and visually stylish); 10) THE INSIDER; 11) MR. DEATH; 12) COOKIE'S FORTUNE; 13) TOPSY-TURVY; 14) AUTUMN TALE; 15) MANSFIELD PARK; 16) THE STRAIGHT STORY; 17) AFTER LIFE; 18) CABARET BALKAN; 19) CHILDREN OF HEAVEN; 20) AMERICAN MOVIE; 21) ON THE ROPES; 22) THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT; 23) TARZAN; 24) TOY STORY 2; 25) THE IRON GIANT; Runners Up: ALL ABOUT MY MOTHER, DOGMA, MUMFORD, THE RED VIOLIN, GENGHIS BLUES, HOME PAGE, GOD SAID, HA!, SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT, THE PHANTOM MENACE, ELECTION, BOWFINGER, DICK, LAST NIGHT, LIBERTY HEIGHTS, RUN LOLA RUN, THE DREAMLIFE OF ANGELS, MAN ON THE MOON, THE WINSLOW BOY, NOTTING HILL, LIMBO, THE LOSS OF SEXUAL INNOCENCE, DEEP BLUE SEA, PRIVATE CONFESSIONS, MY SON THE FANATIC, TWIN FALLS IDAHO, THE GREEN MILE, FELICIA'S JOURNEY, GUINEVERE, FANTASIA 2000, TANGO, OCTOBER SKY, THE GENERAL, SWEET AND LOWDOWN.
What`s about... by Slem76	Feb 11th, 2001 05:33:18 PM
Gangster No. 1? I
RE: Way of the Gun by iloveryan	Mar 3rd, 2001 09:52:04 PM
Hear, hear, nelsonalgren!
top movies of 2000 by pher	Mar 28th, 2001 12:41:58 AM
i really liked your list, and i thought it was great to see chicken run on there, as i dont think it got enough respectful recognition it deserved. here are my top 10 movies of 2000.. 1. quills 2. requiem for a dream 3. crouching tiger, hidden dragon in no particular order: almost famous chicken run chocolat cecil b demented virgin suicides dancer in the dark oh brother, where out thou (and i usually do not like george clooney) honorable mentions: shadow of the vampire traffic (though i got bored at times) two movies i thought were over-rated: gladiator and pollock, though i think pollock is 2001...
Damn this list is gay as fuck by NeoNatal	Mar 28th, 2001 06:55:26 AM
Best movies? Shit... I hate the way that fagamuffin writes. Giddy? Chicken run? Gimme a break, only reason why I visit this site like every 6 months is for the behind the scenes upcoming movie production tidbits. Half them movies on that list bore me to fucking death. I lost faith in this site when that fat bitch tried to proclaim Blair Witch and EP1 as these great marvels of genious. Fucking please. Some people may gush and fart over indie movies but there isn't many that fucking even catch my eye, that's just me. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, was by far the best movie on that list, and by fag's own admission, a genre changing movie. Unbreakable was really good. But Almost Famous? gag. Total sleeper man. Can't wait to see what fagman is going to review and say about this years best flic, Pearl Harbor. Harry says, "Ooooh Ben Afleck he makes my greasy fat chicken greased nipples hard, the movie made me giddy. Like when RoboGeek shoves a 10"inch dildo up my ass and twists it until I cum on my own forehead. Brilliant! I remember dressing up like a woman and camping outside with my gay friends and a pine cone hit me on the head. That's what this movie reminds me off when I saw the Japanese Zero's flying over Hawaii. Gay camping with pine cone attacks. Brilliant! But I don't want to review the movie, I guess it all began that mornin, I bent over to put on some underwear, and there was a shit streak. Then after smelling it, I went down the street to talk to Carl Gaga, this friend of mine from 6th grade. We went shopping on Rodeo Drive. I bought some $200 socks, and he bought a Russel Crowe kidnapper autographed jockey strap. We shared. Then we went to look at street signs, and Twinkie hunting. After a while, my bra started to itch so I had to take it off. Then I met up with more friends, well they were these drag queens I was butt fucked by the previous morning. Since I've known them for more than 30 minutes they are considered 'best friends'. Finally 5 hours later at 8pm I went to see Pearl Harbor. And here is my review. It was good. Now let's talk about this indie film about feeding crack-cocaine to dogs and cats. It was so profound, I could hear how distorted and muffled he barks and meows were from the drug induced pets. It moved me. Either that or I farted. Thank you, Harry." Nice.. this site is gay as fucking pink scarfs.
Damn this list is gay as fuck by NeoNatal	Mar 28th, 2001 06:55:29 AM
Best movies? Shit... I hate the way that fagamuffin writes. Giddy? Chicken run? Gimme a break, only reason why I visit this site like every 6 months is for the behind the scenes upcoming movie production tidbits. Half them movies on that list bore me to fucking death. I lost faith in this site when that fat bitch tried to proclaim Blair Witch and EP1 as these great marvels of genious. Fucking please. Some people may gush and fart over indie movies but there isn't many that fucking even catch my eye, that's just me. Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, was by far the best movie on that list, and by fag's own admission, a genre changing movie. Unbreakable was really good. But Almost Famous? gag. Total sleeper man. Can't wait to see what fagman is going to review and say about this years best flic, Pearl Harbor. Harry says, "Ooooh Ben Afleck he makes my greasy fat chicken greased nipples hard, the movie made me giddy. Like when RoboGeek shoves a 10"inch dildo up my ass and twists it until I cum on my own forehead. Brilliant! I remember dressing up like a woman and camping outside with my gay friends and a pine cone hit me on the head. That's what this movie reminds me off when I saw the Japanese Zero's flying over Hawaii. Gay camping with pine cone attacks. Brilliant! But I don't want to review the movie, I guess it all began that mornin, I bent over to put on some underwear, and there was a shit streak. Then after smelling it, I went down the street to talk to Carl Gaga, this friend of mine from 6th grade. We went shopping on Rodeo Drive. I bought some $200 socks, and he bought a Russel Crowe kidnapper autographed jockey strap. We shared. Then we went to look at street signs, and Twinkie hunting. After a while, my bra started to itch so I had to take it off. Then I met up with more friends, well they were these drag queens I was butt fucked by the previous morning. Since I've known them for more than 30 minutes they are considered 'best friends'. Finally 5 hours later at 8pm I went to see Pearl Harbor. And here is my review. It was good. Now let's talk about this indie film about feeding crack-cocaine to dogs and cats. It was so profound, I could hear how distorted and muffled he barks and meows were from the drug induced pets. It moved me. Either that or I farted. Thank you, Harry." Nice.. this site is gay as fucking pink scarfs.
Neonatal... by rupert pupkin	Apr 3rd, 2001 12:01:56 AM
I have a hard time telling the difference between your gay obsession and your obviously happy life. Maybe therapy?
what about pitch black by carlos_the_jack	Aug 26th, 2001 11:47:58 AM
thrills, scares a brilliant concept, how come pitch black did'nt get anywhere? And vin diesels gravely voiced anti hero is class. my top three would probally be 1. pitch black 2. requiem for a dream (Afronosky shows us pi was no fluke) and 3. way of the gun, see ya!

Talkbacks

Harry's BEST OF 2000 Film List

User login

Quick Talkback

Talkbacks